2nd Sunday of Lent, 2023 - Fr. Leo
Last Sunday, I spoke of a dream most basic to our hearts; to live in the Kingdom of God. Lent being the time we uncover lessor dreams that can pull us away from God like Adam and Eve when they ate the fruit in the middle of the garden. As we move closer to our true self and our basic desire for God, we are transformed by the grace of God little by little becoming saints of God.
Today, Peter, James and his brother John, witness the power of transformation to which we are all called. Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And a voice was heard, this is my beloved Son, listen to him. The disciples were baffled and afraid. It is then that Jesus said to them. “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Transformation in grace is a glorious thing, but the process can also be painful. We may experience moments of fear in our inner journey. Transformation always involves change, and that is something we seem averse to. We will leave our current comfort zones if we are going to love as Jesus loved. Jesus lost everything out of love for us and our being faithful will call us to give up some things and take up others.
We make progress in the Spirit by striving to live virtuous lives. Virtuous in our charity to others, and in our willingness move inward and ponder Christ’s love with the Scriptures, so our ‘love’ horizon may be expanded. This happens in prayer and contemplation of the God who’s love created and sustains us in every moment.
When we draw closer to the Lord, we share in his love for all and feel the pain of sin that kills what is good in us and in the world. We become moved by the hideousness of war and by the brokenness of humanity. Not only our own brokenness, but the brokenness of our enemies as well. At that moment grace shows us that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that his love fall on the good and the bad alike.
I have a sculpture of the head of Christ crucified, that is hard to look at. Christ’s physical and emotional pain are well depicted. I have come to see the pain in the Lord’s face as a pain from the sin of humanity, including the seemingly infinite in-humanity to man. Prayer is feeling that pain and longing for all humanity to come to its senses and live the original dream of Eden before selfishness entered our choices.
Let us together pray for Grace. For only the saving power of the Father can transform us and make our faces shine like the sun. Come, Holy Spirit, renew the face of the earth. Let your love make all sisters and brothers united in you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.