Second Sunday in Lent

“My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord” (Phil. 4:1). I felt a rush of emotion as I read these words of Saint Paul in which he gave free rein to his expression of love. He knew himself to be loved and called by the Lord. Because he was loved, he was filled with love for the people of Philippi. To cement the church’s unity, he asked his disciples to cling to one another with the bonds of love, mindful that the God who saved them out of love is also He who made them for love.

God instructed Abram to look to the sky and count the stars. The psalmist gives us the reason for this instruction. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament displays his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1). Similarly, Jesus invited the disciples to accompany him as he ascended the heights, to move up higher (sic). We are familiar with the psalmist’s comment. “I lift my eyes to the mountains from where shall come my help” (Ps. 121:1). It is in the beauty of creation that we find tell-tale signs of God’s loving care for us. During this season of lent, let us join our Father Abraham in observing the heavens. Let us also ascend the heights with the Lord.

Through the disciplines of lent, we are encouraged to distance ourselves from anything that distracts us from seeing God’s handiwork and surrendering to the guidance of the Spirit. Everything we see can remind us of his love for us and give us reason to live in hope. As we look to the horizon, we anticipate the rising of the sun and the dawning of a new day. As we ascend the heights, our field of vision is expanded. During these days of Lent, we are asked to deny ourselves those things that impair our ability to experience wonder and awe in God’s presence. Fasting frees us to taste and savor what we put in our mouths. We take so much for granted that we fail to appreciate God’s lavish blessings.

We would do well to gaze at the night sky and count the stars. I love to watch flower buds open and put forth their dazzling colors. The season of Lent allows us to experience God’s delight by observing the work of his hands. The disciplines of Lent enable us to replace consumption of the world’s goods with detached delight in all that God has created.

Today’s gospel passage recounts how Jesus guided his disciples to the top of Mount Tabor where they found a quiet place and got some much-needed rest (CF. Mk. 6:31). The Book of Genesis recounts how Jacob, as he slept under a star-studded sky, had a vision of a stairway that connected heaven and earth (CF. Gen. 28:11-12). Similarly, as the apostles reposed atop Mount Tabor, they saw the heavens thrown open and the glory of the Father overshadowing the Beloved Son (CF. Lk. 9:34). For one brief shining moment they knew they were in the house of God, in the presence of the Holy One of Israel (CF. Gen.28:17).

On the holy mountain, the Father’s glory shined upon the Lord Jesus, and uncreated light radiated from His face. Lent is a time for us to focus on Christ and press on to claim our heavenly prize (CF. Phil. 3:14). It is not enough to ascend the mountain. Like Jacob, we also need to climb the ladder until we enter the dwelling of God. Readers of Narnia will recall the instructions the children received, “Go further up and go further in.” During this time of lent, we must go deeper and enter more intentionally into our relationship with God. The goal of Lent is our total transformation into Christ. As Saint Paul wrote: “We who with unveiled faces behold the Lord’s glory, are progressively being transformed into his image from one degree of glory to the next” (2 Cor. 3:18). “By revealing himself God wishes to make [the people he created] capable of responding to him, and of knowing him, and of loving him far beyond their natural capacity” (CCC, 52). As we strip off our sin-flawed nature through acts of penitence, God in his mercy wraps us in the garments of righteousness. The Father never stops shaping and fashioning us until he sees and loves in us what he sees and loves in Christ. I was reminded of the prayer of blessing said over our cowls.

BLESSING OF THE MONASTIC COWL

Lord Jesus Christ, in your goodness you clothed yourself in the garment of our mortal flesh. We beg you, then, in your boundless goodness, to bless this cowl appointed by our Holy Fathers as the garb of those who renounce the world, in token of the innocence and humility which should be theirs. Grant, then, that this your servant who is to wear this cowl, may be found worthy to be clothed in your very self, who live and reign forever and ever.