2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B

"This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him."


Lectionary Readings for 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B

This gospel passage is the biblical source for the fourth mystery of
light: The Transfiguration of our Lord. Here, we find Jesus being
transfigured before the eyes of the three disciples who were closest
to him: Peter, James and John. As he was transfigured, he became
dazzling white and Moses and Elijah appeared with him - both beside
him. The event was so awe-inspiring that Peter impulsively said that
they were willing to build three booths at that site: one for each
of them: Jesus, Elijah and Moses. However, the three disciples
misunderstood the event. What was important was the message imparted
to them by the Father: "This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him."
Jesus was transfigured for the disciples so that they may believe
that in Jesus, the glory of God may be manifested to all.

Jesus enters our life not once but many times. When he enters our
life, we are called to really listen to him. Sometimes, we become
deaf because of the many noises within us and in our environment,
that we fail to really listen to him. And yet that is what we are
called to really do, for he tells us that he is the Way, the Truth
and the Life. Just as he manifested to the apostles the glory of
God, we too can witness how glorious our Lord is through the many
human and spiritual experiences we go through: in our prayer, in
our reception of the sacraments, in our service to the Church, and
in the many ways he heals us, teaches us wisdom, and shepherds us
to life in him. However this is good for us, to see how glorious
the Lord is, all he asks of us, and all the Father wants us to
really do, is to listen to him. For it is in listening to him
that we obey and do his will.

In this liturgical season of Lent, let us, amidst all our activities
and work, really take some quality time, some quiet time to really
be tranquil, serene, and silent before the Lord our Maker, Creator
and Provider. Let us listen to him more intently and discern what
he is asking of us to do in order to serve him more. Lent is really
a time for reconciling ourselves to the Lord. And what better form
of reconciliation we can perform than to really be at the foot of
the Lord's throne and making ourselves ready to listen to whatever
word he has to say to us. And as we listen, let us not forget to
be repentant and to atone for all our sinfulness. Let us not forget
how sinful we have been, how we have not forgiven those who wronged
us, how we have not really prayed from the heart, how we have not
practiced almsgiving, and how we have lived lives that are not
humble and modest. When we do admit this to him in prayer or in
the sacrament of confession, we shall be placed again in his favor
and really be ready to listen to his word.

1st Sunday of Lent, Year B

"Reform your lives and believe in the good news!"


Lectionary Readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent, Year B

The Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he was tempted by the
evil one. Satan tested Jesus and wanted Jesus to take a path that
was not of the Father's plan. Jesus, strong as he was because of
the Spirit in him, was able to resist these temptations and continued
with the mission entrusted to him by the Father.

After the test in the desert, Jesus appeared in Galilee and began
his ministry. His rallying cry was "reform your lives and
believe in the good news!" This was a preparation for people to
turn away from their sinful ways and believe in the salvation that
Jesus was offering them.

In this liturgical season of Lent, let us examine our life at this
time and see how many times we have been unable to resist the
temptations of the flesh, the world and the evil one. When we have
fallen, could it be because we have not rooted our life well in
Jesus? Perhaps we were so immersed in the world that we have
forgotten to pray to Jesus and ask him the strength to resist
sin. Let us then pray for sorrow for our sins and find means and
ways to reconcile with God through the sacrament of confession.
By constantly examining ourselves and being responsible for our
acts of sin, we are in the right step and direction of reforming
our life and believing in the good news Jesus offers us: that he
is victorious over sin and evil.

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

"The day will come...when the bridegroom will be taken away...on that day
they will fast."


Lectionary Readings for the 8th Sunday of the Year, Year B

In this Sunday's gospel, we see people coming to Jesus and saying in
objection: "Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast
while yours do not?" Jesus tells them that while the bridegroom is
with them, the people do not fast. Only when the bridegroom is taken
away, do the people fast. This bridegroom that Jesus was saying is
a reference to himself. Jesus knew that a time will come when he
had to lay down his life for his people; a time will come when he
had to obey the Father's will and sacrifice his life so that the
world may be saved from sin. Although Jesus was fulfilling the
Law and the Prophets, he was introducing a new tradition, a tradition
where love ruled over the Law, the Sabbath and simple traditions
like fasting and the cleansing rituals that had to be done before
eating.

For us today, especially those who belong to old generations, it
seems upsetting when things change or change is introduced into our
way of doing things. For the younger generation, this is no problem
as they are more open to change. In fact, they want change. And
this can be seen in their avid desire to follow fads and fashions
in the music and technological world. For those of us who have
already settled into life and have created quite a stable form of
living, when change comes, we are like the people and the Pharisees
and scribes who are get upset when Jesus does not "do what is
usually done". However, even though we may be part of the present
status quo, we are called to be open to change, especially if this
change is for the better. Only when we make ourselves docile to
the Spirit, then the Spirit can change our minds and hearts and
make it more receptive to the will of God. Let us therefore be
open especially to the Holy Spirit. For even if He brings on
change, we know that it is of God.