Second Sunday of Lent Year C, 17/03/2019

In today’s readings reality is encountered through revelation of the identity.

In the first reading God chooses Abram and reveals himself to him as Lord of his exodus to the land of settlement. Abram believes God and his faith reckoned him as righteous and God makes a covenant with him.

In the second reading Paul invites us to be of single mind in following Christ and sharing in his suffering and the power of his resurrection. He does this by using the example of himself; “Imitate me” he says, in rejecting anything against Christ Jesus. Paul reveals Christ by his living.

The psalm is a prayer of distress and the vow to give witness to God’s saving power when God responds. The Psalmist also declares God’s love and the reason to seek refuge in him.

In the Gospel Jesus is transfigured; his face and likewise his garments became radiant. The person of Jesus is revealed, his profound reality. The Apostles are the witnesses of the event that took place on the Mountain. This happens to prepare Jesus for what is going to take place in Jerusalem.

How can we describe a transfigured family, small Christian community and parish? These are the communities where Jesus is encountered through their family values and relationships that grow us together as one family and community. The family that prays together encounters Jesus together; the small Christian community that reflects on the Word of God and their life issues and concerns encounter Jesus.  The parish that is built of these homes and small Christian communities that have encountered Jesus remains a charitable, faith and hope filled parish community and the leadership reveals Jesus’ encounter.

How can we nurture the experience of “its well that we are here”-this is what Peter and other disciples experienced. It is the experience of encounter of who Jesus is. This experience can be ours when we create a culture of encounter in our homes/families, small Christian communities, parishes and other social places. For instance, one step to create that is to avoid living fragmented life in our homes, small Christian communities and parishes. Be a present Father in your family and to your children. Your presence is a rich encounter of love and a great revelation of fatherhood. Priests and the leaders of SCCs and parish can treat with special care and attention the families in difficulty or in irregular or precarious condition. Do not leave them on their own, but be lovingly close to them, helping them to understand the family values and how God’s authentic plan for marriage and family can create an experience of “Its well we are here” (its well we are in this parish). Be leaders who create to your communities the experience of “Its well we are here” by making people experience the love and compassion of Jesus through humble service.

Joy and Peace.

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