Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (2/17/2008)

Dear People of Holy Name,

‘Each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed.’ (Preface for Lent)

These wonderful words from the first preface for Lent in the Latin Rite, remind us that Lent is a season of joy as we learn to live in the paschal mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. In the Gospel today, Jesus is transformed in appearance, as his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. What hope this must have instilled in the disciples as they witnessed the brightest of light, God, who dispels all sin and death.

That moment on the mountain foreshadows Christ’s resurrection and the fullness of light we will enter into at our own resurrection. It is that light that is to be our guide, as it sustains our hope in life’s journey to the fullness of life in heaven.

Unfortunately, neither Jesus nor his disciples could stay on the mountain. They came down from there to continue their journey to Jerusalem. Life for them, as it is for us, is a mix of pain and joy. Jesus had to die before he was raised up by the Father, and we too will come to the end of our days and meet with many struggles before we are raised up by the same Creator. That is why Paul says: ‘Bear your share of the hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.’

In the good times it is easy to live in hope, but it is during the dark times that keeping the light of Christ before us is a real challenge. This is the crucible of faith. Each time the rug of life gets pulled out from under us and we trust in God to bring us through, it gets easier. Relying on our faith carries us through the darkest of nights. Our coping skills grow, but so does our trust in the goodness of God that things will work out for the better and that a greater peace will be ours. Unfortunately this growth takes time.

In your own life think of a time when something happened to you that you thought you’d never live through, or that you found completely devastating. Have you come to peace with that experience, learned from it and healed to become a stronger person? Is that experience now a source of wisdom for you and those in your life? Can you look back and see the hand of God bringing you to a new place mentally and spiritually? Has that experience made you more prepared for future challenges in your life? Has it brought you to trust in God more so that your life is lived in hope?

Our faith grows through our life experiences and our faith gives us strength as we face life’s challenges and learn to make them opportunities for growth. The stronger our faith the stronger we will be in the rough times. Today we are invited to climb the mountain with Jesus and witness his light. Take time to imagine Christ’s standing before you and let his light embrace you. Let yourself believe that there is a power greater than yourself who is here for you. Ask God to help you know his love in your pain and his joy in your peace.

Let us also strive to be light for one another and trust that others can be our light. Let us reach out to those in need and reach out to others in our need. Relying on each other will make us stronger, our way smoother and our hope real. The light of Christ will shine and the fullness of the transfiguration will be ours as we become an Easter people.

Let us keep each other in our prayers.

In Christ's Peace, Fr. Leo