Bulletin Week March 17, 2019

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From the Pastor’s Desk

As the journey of Lent continues, on this Second Sunday we find ourselves on the mount for the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus. This event, which is in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew. Mark and Luke), has been a mainstay on this Sunday in Lent for centuries. Just as on the First Sunday of Lent we hear the story of Jesus’ temptation by the devil, so on this Sunday the Christian Church has always proclaimed the story of the Transfiguration.

Peter’s words in the Gospel frame the importance of the story for us: “Master, it is good that we are here” (Lk 9:33). In the first place it is good that we are here – here in this place that, as a community of faith, we are worshipping the living God of our salvation. As well, like Peter, James and John, it is good that we are with them on the top of that mountain where, here, we can be given a true sense of hope – hope that is so needed as we make this Lenten journey. For them, it was not an easy climb to get to the top of the mountain. Yet, their sacrifice is “rewarded” with a vision of Christ’s glory. The Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and charitable service can seem difficult if we try to accomplish them with only our own efforts. These disciplines are to bring us to a radical conversion of our lives away from sin, but can only be done with the help of our Lord. When we commit to them, Christ, by grace, renews our hope that this journey is well worth it!

By seeing the light of Jesus’ glory, most especially in the grace of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, we are continually invited to know a different Light than that which captures our attention and moves away from the True Light, Jesus Christ. His Light, His Glory is our salvation. Let us pray for one another as we continue the discipline of Lent and journey to the glory of His Resurrection.

Love,

Father Tom