The Dictate of the Heart: 2nd Sunday of Lent, Extraordinary Form, TLM

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Lent. St. Augustine, after his conversion, realized that the goodness of God manifested through His creation, and it helped him find God’s love by appreciating the beauty of nature, the whole universe, and his remarkable understanding of God’s word. He discovered the true beauty of God by clinging to his new life with Him which led him to live in freedom under grace.

The epistle, taken from the 1st letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, informs us of the guidance of St. Paul to his people who accepted Jesus in their lives that they should be sanctified. He calls them to live in purity and possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God. When sexual immorality becomes part of a society, it hurts people and the church. There is a need for sexual self-control and discipline, which allows everyone to love one another genuinely and to love your spouse faithfully, rather than use each other. We need to listen to St. Paul exhorting us that, as believers, we must live in holiness to continue walking with Jesus and do things to please God, which in turn brings contentment and joy to our soul, rather than being deceived by the world’s attractions in order to satisfy our sexual cravings. As believers, we have been freed from the slavery of sin; therefore, seek Christ this season of Lent so that we too may experience transformation.

The gospel today narrates to us about Jesus’ transfiguration as witnessed by his three apostles, Peter, James, and John. During the transfiguration, Jesus was talking to Moses, representing the Law, and to Elijah, representing the prophets. They were delighted to see the appearance of Jesus radiant with light and his clothes dazzlingly white. They knew that Jesus had conversation with Moses and Elijah. They were called to believe, which challenged their knowing, and then to move on to a relationship walking back down the mountain in faith.

How many of us have realized what surfaced during that transfiguration in the life of Jesus as it relates to our Lenten journey?

First, this transfiguration in the life of our Lord is for us to take some time to reflect God’s calling us for transformation. Is there anything holding us back from being open to the love of Christ, which will transform us if we allow ourselves to witness and listen to Him? I believe that with our two senses, seeing Christ’s radiating light so that we could enlighten our path that leads to true life and the clarity of life’s purpose, and listening to Him in prayer so that our desire for the Word of God allows us to center on His Words. This kind of spirituality of Lent calls us to a faith and a listening which leads to our trusting God.

Second, Jesus’ transfiguration was an exceptional experience of the three apostles to witness His glorification and to give them hope. It also increases His disciples’ courage for what was to come. Hence, we receive the call to climb the mountain of transformation with Jesus, our Lord, which brings change, not only in our external appearances, but wholly able to change our interior life.

Third, as we descend from the mountain of transformation, let us share our faith stories with one another. We need to proclaim our experiences with God so that others may hear them. Maybe some people would appreciate our own perspective and grasp a different image of God. It is a grace though. In the scripture Jesus says, “charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,” which means it is not stopping us to say something but to wait until the “Son of God had risen from the dead.” I believe that the Resurrection of Jesus adds to the full understanding of the story of the Transfiguration of Christ. As believers, however, we need to confidently validate our faith in God and His continuous love for us as experienced by Abraham as well.

This season of Lent, we must acknowledge that we cannot transform ourselves alone. Jesus is the only one who can change us, for His grace is sufficiently given to us with our sincere cooperation. Let Abraham serve as our inspiration and model, the “Father of Faith to all Nations.” Just as Abraham was willing to offer his only son, Isaac, in the same manner, God, the Father Almighty, offered His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that the grace of salvation continuous to flourish on earth, even up to this day, as God’s marvelous blessing!

God bless you.

Fr. Arlon, osa