Lenten Moments of Mercy: Second Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent   Lent is a time when we open ourselves to God’s transforming grace.

Scripture “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20   Reflection In an interview with the programWitness for Salt and Light Television, Monsignor Dario Viganò, then director of Vatican television, told of the first moments of Pope Francis’s papal ministry. Pope Francis came out of the Sistine Chapel and went to the Pauline Chapel with two cardinals accompanying him. His head was bowed down, as if the burden of the task that he had been elected to was weighing him down. In the Pauline Chapel, instead of going to a prearranged papal throne, he sat in the last pew, compelling the two cardinals to sit with him. He prayed in silence. Msgr. Viganò says that when Pope Francis got up to go to meet the people, he was a different man. His head was no longer down. He looked straight ahead and was smiling. It was as if God had said to him personally, “Don’t worry. I am here with you.” Pope Francis had an experience of God’s transforming mercy and grace. (Dario Viganò interview with Fr. Thomas Rosica. Witness, October 4, 2013) In the third chapter of his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul calls on his brothers and sisters in faith to follow his example insofar as he is following Christ. Paul is critical of those who name themselves Christian, but follow their bellies with their minds on earthly things. As long as they act this way they will be closed to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. Paul promises that for those who follow Christ, they will begin to experience in this world the joy and happiness that will be completed in the next. Image: Lorenzo Lotto, The Transfiguration of Christ

Pope Francis “Jesus’ way always leads us to happiness. There will always be a cross, trials in the middle, but at the end we are always led to happiness.” Angelus, 1 March 2015   Lenten Action ► Watch more of the interview with Msgr. Viganò. ► Reflect on this Sunday’s Gospel with Arts & Faith: Lent and the Sunday Connection.   Prayer You, O Lord, are the light of our salvation. Whom should we fear?

http://www.loyolapress.com/