Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

2nd Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

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“Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John off by themselves and led hem up a high mountain.”  This transfiguration account appears just after Jesus has reminded the disciples, “Whoever loses your life for My sake, and the gospel – will save your life. Jesus lets these remarks soak in and take root for six days before he sets off up the mountain with Peter, James and John in tow.

The story (I believe) calls each one of us to examine what mountains we have yet to climb to see God’s glory.  We could apply the story to death or a near-death experience, but if we do that, we miss the everyday mountains that we must scale.  Call those mountains what you will, we must climb them to witness God’s glory: hurdles, challenges, enticing temptations, near occasions of sin, quirks of personality, Lenten resolutions, pet peeves…   They can be like a grain of sand inside your shoe.  Other times, they may feel like huge boulders that we need a backhoe to lever inch by inch.  Everyone’s mountain is different. To witness God’s glory, we must each climb our own “mountains”.

As we become aware that we are nearing a mountaintop, we must relax take a breather, yes, but with our spirit-eyes open to see God’s glory.  Stay alert, careful not to misread the signs; have the insight to know that we are at the top.  Gaze on the God of the Revelation.  In awe we may wonder: Why did God choose me?  Why does God love me so much?

What causes us to miss the “small miracles”, the “everyday transfigurations”?  The “Emmaus” moments along the path to Life? Gently remind yourself, that Jesus and the disciples also went back down the mountain.  Thank God when you get to top and do not be distracted with worry over “what’s going to happen next?”

Jesus did not become “more God” that day on the mountain.  It seems to me the change was not so much in Jesus, as it was in the disciples.  They were ready.  They had climbed the mountain.   And their eyes were open to witness the miracle of the moment.   What are those moments in your life?  Maybe it happens at the Consecration of the Mass or when you look across the dining table or at confreres across the aisle in chapel.

God is already there; is right here NOW.   Jesus invites us to go up the mountain with Him.  He leads the way.  We must open our awareness to witness the transfiguration. God reveals the Son little by little to those who take the time and interest to stay with him.  When we follow His lead, stay with the experience, do what it takes to build our relationship, foster life with the Other; in essence we live out our vow of stability; our promise of “stick-to-tive-ness.

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading:   Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18        Second Reading:  Philippians 3:17-4:1
Gospel:   Luke 9:28b-36

 

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Second Sunday of Lent

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“Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John off by themselves and led them up a high mountain.”  This transfiguration account appears just after Jesus has reminded the disciples, “Whoever loses your life for My sake, and the gospel –  will save your life.  Then Jesus lets these remarks soak in and take root for six days before he sets off up the mountain with Peter, James and John in tow.

The story (I believe) calls each one of us to examine what mountains we must climb to see God’s glory.  We could apply the story to death or a near-death experience, but if we do that, we miss the everyday mountains that we must scale.  Call those mountains what you will, we must climb them to witness God’s glory: hurdles, challenges, enticing temptations, near occasions of sin, quirks of personality, Lenten resolutions, pet peeves…. Some days they are like a little pebble on our path.  Or, they can be like a grain of sand inside your shoe.  Other days, they are like boulders for which we need a backhoe to lever them inch by inch.  Everyone’s mountain is different. But, to witness God’s glory, we must each climb our own “mountains”.

As we become aware that we are nearing a mountaintop, we must relax and rest, and keep our eyes open to see God’s glory.  We must stay alert, careful not to misread the signs; have the insight to know that we are at the top.  We gaze on the God of the Revelation.  In awe we may wonder: Why did God choose me?  Why does God love me so much?

What causes you to miss the “small miracles”, the “everyday transfigurations”, the “Emmaus” moments along the path to Life? Gently remind yourself, that Jesus and the disciples also went back down the mountain.  Thank God when you get to top and do not be distracted with worry over “what’s going to happen next?”

Jesus did not become “more God” that day on the mountain.  I don’t think the change was so much in Jesus, as it was in the disciples.  They were ready.  They had climbed the mountain.   And their eyes were open to witness the miracle of the moment.   What are the miracles of the moments of your life?

When you have had a “mountaintop experience” you don’t forget it!  When the veil was removed from your eyes and you beheld Jesus as He really is, you can recall every detail of the moment.  Maybe it was while you were on retreat, or a day of recollection, during adoration or Stations of the Cross, or out of the blue.  Maybe it was in the privacy of your own room or in a crowd.  Maybe it happens at the Consecration of the Mass or when you look across the dining table or at a confrere across the aisle in chapel.

God is already there; is right here NOW.   Jesus invites us up the mountain and leads the way.  We must open our awareness to witness the transfiguration. God reveals the Son little by little to those who take the time and interest to stay with Him.  When we follow His lead, stay with the experience, do what it takes to build our relationship, foster life with the Other; in essence we live out our vow of stability.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 Have a good week.

 

 

First Reading:   Genesis 12:1-4a        Second Reading:  Timothy 1:8b-10
Gospel:   Matthew 17:109
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Miracles Happen Everyday

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I feel fairly certain that I am not the only among us who has awakened one day with an urgent feeling to call a particular person for a reason you can’t figure out.  Or have you found yourself driving a route that was not exactly the one you usually follow only to learn later on why your guardian angel planted that idea?  Do you think it possible the day Jesus asked three of his disciples to go with him up the mountain to pray was one of those days?  He just knew in his bones he HAD to go to that place and felt a need to invite Peter, James and John to accompany him.  It was only after they got to that level spot that He realized his Father’s intention.  It’s not quite clear to me if Jesus wanted company while he prayed or was hoping they’d join him in prayer.  In either case they were gifted with a glimpse of His glory.

But, first they had to agree to hike up that mountain with him.  Jesus calls each one of us to examine what mountain we must climb to see God’s glory.  You can call the mountains whatever you will – it’s your personalized mount to climb: hurdles, challenges, enticing temptations, near occasions of sin, quirks of personality, broken resolutions, pet peeves… Some days they are like a little pebble on our path that we casually kick aside.  And some days they’re tiny grains of sand inside our shoe.  They’re no bother when you are sitting still but the instant you start to move it quickly makes itself felt.  Other days, they are like boulders we can’t move with a backhoe.  Everyone’s mountain is different; but, to witness God’s glory, we must climb the mountain with our name on it.

And, when we reach the mountaintop, we must stay alert, have the insight to know that we are at the top.  The disciples could have missed Jesus’ transfiguration if they:

  • had not awakened at the right moment
  • had been too busy taking in the view
  • were wondering how they going to be up on this mountain anyway
  • and, who’s going to catch the fish for tonight’s supper.

You fill in the blanks…you know what it is that keeps you from seeing God’s glory.  What causes you to miss the “small miracles” of “everyday transfigurations” in yourself, in each other, in nature.  We need to thank God when we get to the top of the mountain; but we can hardly stay there.  There are more mountains to climb.  While you are at the top, if only for an instant, don’t miss the transfiguration.

Jesus did not become “more God” that day on the mountain.  I don’t think the change was so much in Jesus, as it was in the disciples.  They were ready.  They had climbed the mountain and now their eyes were opened to witness the miracle of the moment.  Transfigurations or “miracles” are all around us IF we but have the eyes to see.

  • Miracle of God’s graciousness when a person holds a door open for another
  • Miracle of God’s mercy when a mistake is not challenged in public
  • Miracle of God’s steadfastness when day after day others gather with me for communal exercises
  • Miracle of God’s perseverance when we come through tough times – individually and as a community
  • Miracle of God’s humility when reconciliation occurs
  • Miracle of God’s generosity when an offer is extended before the favor is voiced
  • Miracle of God’s humor when it rains on our picnics
  • Miracle of God’s artistry in the beauty of nature that surrounds us
  • And always, thank you, God, for the miracle of tomorrow: the gift of a new sunrise, a new slate, a new beginning.

Make your own litany of miracles.  God is already there.  Jesus invites us to follow His lead going up the mountain where we just need to open our eyes to witness the transfiguration.

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Have a pleasant week.  Celebrate “wearin’ of the green” with the Irish on Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day and the Italians on Saturday, St. Joseph Day – St. Joseph bread for the poor.  May God bless all peoples with cause to celebrate Divine Goodness.

 

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 26:4-10     Second Reading:  Romans 10:8-13
Gospel:  Luke 9:28b-36
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