Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent
by Sister Jeanne M. Wiest, OP
If you’re like me, most of my mail this time of year is from mail order catalogs touting their new spring clothes. While such clothes are not yet practical for us in the Northwoods, the consideration of something different than all the heavy layers that we have been insulating ourselves with for the past several months does seem inviting. We are ready for a change.
Our scripture readings for today speak of change also. But unlike the exterior change that new and different clothes provide, the changes in today’s scriptures speak of interior change.
In the first reading we heard of Abram’s call to change, by means of relocating. But along with that relocation would come other changes, changes that would be a blessing. But in order for these blessings to occur, for the change to occur, Abram first had to listen to God’s voice. Only because he listened, did he know what God was asking. Though he may not have understood all the ramifications or have total confidence that it would all work out, Abram was willing to risk and change, a change that would ultimately make of him “a great nation.”
In our gospel we also have Jesus who was changed, transfigured, with his face shining like the sun, his clothes white like light. It is doubtful that Jesus knew that this was going to happen to him. As fully human Jesus did not have complete knowledge. What this transfiguration did was show to the disciples, to us, and even to Jesus himself, what was inside of him. It was a revelation of Jesus’ goodness, his oneness with the Father, his divinity. It was an “Ah-ha” moment for both Jesus and his disciples. Because of it, Jesus was on fire with knowledge of his mission – to go and do something. That’s why Jesus didn’t want Peter to take the time to build tents there - it was not a permanent place but a defining moment. There was work to do – to get down off that mountain and bring the Good News to the peWople!
Our Lenten reflection booklet for this Sunday speaks of transformation as defining moments in everyone’s life, those moments when we see clearly what is most important; what has eternal value. But in order to realize them we need to open our hearts to how God is calling us in those moments. What are you/we being called to? Like Jesus we need to take the time to see what’s inside of us. We spend a lot of time and money making ourselves look good on the outside. How much time, money and effort do we take to make ourselves look good on the inside? Often we are too busy covering up what’s inside, layering it with all the heavy burdens of life. If we but take the time to listen, as the voice in the gospel says, we will find the radiating beauty given to us through the grace of baptism. If we take the time to listen, we will, like Jesus, be on fire with knowledge of how we can proclaim the Good News.
This holy season of Lent offers us the chance to change from our dull old routines, from letting life just happen. We are awakened through the scriptures to what is really important in life – to listen to God, and how God speaks to us through others, especially through the ones we least expect to speak God’s word to us: our car mechanic, the shabbily-dressed woman in the grocery store, or the least favorite kid in school. We need to pay attention to our “ah-ha” moments, to those moments in life that transform us and change us for the better. How is God calling you? Are you really ready for that change?
