Second Sunday of Lent

Reflection

I often lead the ritual prayers at the graveside of a deceased person after the Mass of Christian Burial. Each time I consistently select the option from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians to begin the Rite of Committal. “We read in sacred Scripture: Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I have always been attracted to these words. The image of being a citizen of heaven is welcoming and hopeful. I imagine that the deceased in front of me is now in heaven and has already encountered the resurrected Christ amidst many other citizens marked with the sign of faith. These words of St. Paul help compose the image offered in the words of the Eucharistic Preface previously prayed at the Funeral Mass: “life is changed not ended.”

Considering the season of Lent and specifically this Transfiguration Sunday, isn’t this the journey we are all sharing? We have our destination ahead of us in this time of prayer and fasting journeying towards Holy Week and the Easter mysteries. Beyond the liturgical calendar, we have the goal of eventually becoming a citizen of heaven. In each, the opportunity for transformation is our hope. Abram enters the covenant with God and is subsequently transformed to Abraham. Peter, James and John are changed through their growing understanding of Jesus as He is Transfigured before them, yet their journey still lies ahead of them.  The Christian journey itself is a life in which we too are changed by encountering Jesus in our day to lives as we strive for deeper conversion.

Prayer

May this holy season of Lent contribute to our own spiritual transformation so that we can celebrate the Easter mysteries joyfully as we continue our pilgrimage to become citizens of heaven. Amen.

Fr. Brian Cummings, S.S.E. ’86, Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

Psalm 27:1, 7-9, 13-14

Second Reading: Philippians 3:17—4:1

Gospel: Luke 9:28b-36

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website