Father Patrick’s homily & refelction for Sunday, March 9, 2014, the second Sunday of Lent, on the Gospel reading from Matthew 17: 1-9. “The Transfiguration” One of the popular things to do on talk shows nowadays is to have a make over. You take some guy or girl who does not know how to dress and suddenly - Voila! You transform them into something beautiful or handsome. The Gospel however talks about a different kind of transformation. Sinai, Carmel, Tabor and LaVerna. These are the mountain top of transformations of Moses, Elijah, Jesus and Francis of Assisi. The face of Moses and his hair turned white. Jesus was surrounded by light. And St. Francis received the sacred stigmata of the cross. Transformation however does not take place up on high mountains, but down in the depths of our hearts. The journey into the human heart is far more dangerous and treacherous than any winding path or jagged cliff we might face on the way to the mountain top. The journey into our hearts brings us face to face with ourselves. With our fears and desires; our attitudes, the way we talk, the way we act, the way we treat others. What lies buried in our hearts that we do not want to see or admit? The journey into our hearts will strip away all of the excuses we make and the masks we wear. The question we must ask ourselves is how far are we willing to go into the journey of our hearts? Teresa of Avila says that in the journey of the heart, most people turn around and go back because it is too difficult for them to face God and themselves. The journey is difficult with all of its sacrifices, self denial and crosses to bear, but the goal is worth it. For when that transformation takes place…. We see people differently Enemies become friends; We see life differently. Traffic jams become times of prayer and solitude. We see ourselves differently. We are not as bad as we thought. We see suffering differently. It cannot overcome us. We see God differently. He is our friend and brother. Lent is a time of transformation whereby we deny ourselves, take up our crosses, do penance, give alms to the poor, and confess our sins. And if we do? Easter will be more than bunnies and eggs. We will join Moses and Elijah, Jesus and Francis and we too will experience our own personal transfiguration and resurrection. God Bless, Fr. Patrick Greenough, OFM Conv Minister Provincial of St. Bonaventure (USA & Australia) National President of the MI for the USA & Canada
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 15:37:16 +0000
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