Second Sunday of Lent – Year C
February 21, 2016
Gospel: Lk 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the
mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his
clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing (1) with him, Moses and
Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to
accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is
good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and
one for Elijah." But he did not know what he was saying. While he was
still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them (2),
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud
came a voice that said, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him." After
the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at
that time tell anyone what they had seen.
The difficult words
(1) Conversing means to be having a
conversation.
(2) A cloud came and cast a shadow over them. In the Bible this is the sign
that God is present and that he is going to speak. The cloud's shadow covers
the person to whom God is speaking, because God is a mystery and no one can see
him.
This week’s spotlight
Sacrifices in the Jewish religion
In Moses' time, the Jews made many sacrifices to God.
They would kill a lamb or another animal on an attar which they would sprinkle
with blood. Jesus is called the "Lamb of God” because he offered himself
up as a sacrifice on the cross. The Jews thought the blood of sacrificed
animals would purify them. Jesus purifies us through the blood he shed. By
sacrificing his life for us, he teaches us that God doesn't want animal
sacrifices. He wants us to turn our hearts to him and for his love to flow
among us.
The Transfiguration
On the mountain, Jesus appeared transformed to his
disciples. His clothes had become a dazzling white and his face had changed.
Peter, James, and John see the glory
of Jesus. He reveals to them that he is the Messiah, true God and true man. Two
great prophets, Elijah and Moses, are at his side. Elijah had announced a very
long time ago that the Messiah would come; Moses freed the Hebrew people from
Egyptian slavery. Jesus is the Messiah announced by Elijah and is the one who
frees the human family which he has come to save.
Reflection
Prayer can transform us!
Ever since the beginning of Lent, you have been
preparing for Easter. This Sunday, the Gospel invites us to observe and think
about Jesus as he prays to his Father. During this encounter, Jesus is
transformed and his clothes become a very bright white. It is said that his
apostles see his “glory.”
And when you pray, what happens? Of course you do not
become bright with light like Jesus did, but praying brings God’s light into
us, illuminating our lives, our choices, our joys, and our sad times. To pray
is to place our lives under God’s loving care, into his light. Prayer is
spending some time with God, putting our trust in him, and allowing him to
transform us. You don’t only have to recite prayers that you’ve learned by
heart... you can talk to him as if you were talking to a friend. He will answer
you in silence through his word (the readings of the Bible) or through
different people you meet.
Discussion questions
1. Whom did Jesus take up to the mountain with him?
2. What happened while Jesus was praying?
3. Whom did Jesus converse with?
4. What did the voice from the cloud say?
5. Whose voice was that?
6. What should you do to show that you are listening to God?
Praying after Communion
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Through
this communion in the body and blood of your Son, help me to always listen to
his voice. Help me to be transformed, so that I can become more like him in my
words and deeds.
This week...
Pray to God in your own words
To pray is to talk to God. You
can begin with simple words like "I love you," "thank you,"
"forgive," "please," and then invent your own prayer. Write
your own prayer or copy a prayer that you like in your notebook.
Pray to God in different ways
There are many ways to pray. You
can read the Gospel or a page of a collection of poems; you can remain silent
or you can sing... This evening, when you talk to God, choose a way that is
different from what you usually do. Let yourself become filled with the light
of God; feel yourself bathing in love.
Crossword Puzzle
