A Letter from Fr. Paul - Sunday, March 5th

Our Gospel this second Sunday of Lent is Matthew’s version of the Transfiguration.  Notice it is Peter, James, and John who are present, the same three disciples who will be present for the agony in the
garden.  That is no coincidence: these disciples are being allowed to experience the divinity of Jesus to help them get through the trauma of His passion and death.
 
A message for us is that God is always with us, despite the trials and tribulations of life.  When things are not going well, when we ourselves or someone we love is facing a long and painful illness, when a loved one dies, it can be a challenge to feel God’s presence and trust that all will ultimately be OK, since He is in control.
 
There are two clues in this Transfiguration story that help me to have trust, no matter what.  The first clue is the final words that the Father speaks from the cloud: LISTEN TO HIM.  I have to be paying attention to how Jesus lived His life and what He has said to us.  In other words, I need to be reading and reflecting on the Gospels, each day, so that I can hear what Jesus wants to say to me at that moment in my life.
 
The second clue is that Jesus came AND TOUCHED THEM, telling them not to be afraid.  Jesus wants to touch me.  He wants me to feel His arms around me.  That means, in addition to reflecting on the Gospels, I need to spend quiet time with Jesus, sharing my fears and struggles, then being quiet and allowing Him to speak to me.  It is when I can do this that I feel His arms around me and hear Him say, “be not afraid.”
 
Over and over in the Gospels we hear Jesus say to His disciples, “be not afraid.”  He wants us to trust Him.  He wants us to know that all will be OK.  He is there for us: we just need to let Him in.  I invite us to make sure we are reflecting on Jesus’ words and actions in the Gospels, as well as spending quiet time with Him.  Then we will not be afraid.  God bless.
 
Church sign of the week: The storm shall pass. Meanwhile, dance in the rain!