Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 03/16/2014 Second Sunday of Lent

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/16/2014 – Second Sunday of Lent

“Pastoral ministry in a missionary style is not obsessed with the disjointed transmission of a multitude of doctrines to be insistently imposed. When we adopt a pastoral goal and a missionary style which would actually reach everyone without exception or exclusion, the message has to concentrate on the essentials, on what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the same time most necessary. The message is simplified, while losing none of its depth and truth, and thus becomes all the more forceful and convincing.”

(Pope Francis – Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel)

Pope Francis’ words today give us a vision, a direction for our journey of faith. Our scripture today gives us a vision and a direction for our journey of faith. Abram, Peter, James, John and Timothy are inspired by the word, the vision and hopefully so are we!

In our Gospel (Matthew 17:1-9) today Peter, James and John are given the opportunity to see and hear Jesus differently, not just through the eyes and ears of the world but also through the eyes and ears of faith. What they see and hear is terrifying, awesome and wonderful.

Abram (Genesis 12: 1-4a) is ask to see and hear his life differently, not just through the eyes and ears of the world but also through the eyes and ears of faith. For Abram, like Peter, James and John, what he sees and hears is terrifying, awesome and wonderful. Abram is gifted with the presence of God. It is presence that is overwhelming and terrifying but a presence that graces and blesses him. God's presence in Abram's life blesses him with a covenant that will make him the father of a great nation. It was Abram's faith that made this relationship, this covenant possible.

For Peter, James and John things are a little different. They are gifted with God's presence it is a presence that too is overwhelming and terrifying. They encounter the breath of God's covenant and the essence of Jesus divine nature. They want to hang on to both but quickly learn that they cannot. It is an encounter to be remembered, an encounter that they can take with them as they return to the life they live. It becomes for them an encounter of hope. Even though they must return to their everyday life, to the struggles, difficulties, the challenges, even though they must go back down the mountain and continue their journey to the next mountain, Calvary, they have this memory that will keep alive the hope they need no matter what they encounter.

And so it is for us as we continue this journey of Lent, this journey of life. We too have an encounter with the presence of God. It perhaps doesn't seem as terrifying or as awesome and Abram's or Peter, James and John's. It sometimes is quickly forgotten but if we have faith it is the very hope that will help us continue this journey with all its struggles, with all it difficulties, with all its challenges. Our encounter with God is the Eucharist. It is our covenant, it is our mountain top, it is our moment to see and hear God not through the eyes and ears of the world, but through the eyes and ears of faith!

May you rest well this Sunday night and rise refreshed to make a joyful noise!

Daily Lenten Prayer: Loving God, you invite us to listen to and walk with your beloved Son, Jesus. Nourish us today with his Word and Eucharist that we might have the spiritual sight and hearing that only a life of faith can bring. Help us to rejoice in the hope of your presence in our life. Grace us with your love that we may always hear your voice and see your face and live with you as our light and salvation. Bless us with a faith that always keeps us amazed and open to your loving presence. Amen!

Runner's Thought: Sometimes we think of Sunday as a day of rest, yet we want to run. Perhaps we need to think of our running today and every Sunday as a time of rest, as a time of prayer, as a time that will renew, strengthen and enliven us for the new week ahead!

Daily Blessing: Sorry I am a bit late today but it has been a busy day. I hope you all had a blessed Sunday?  I hope today was truly be a day of rest for you, though I know many of you have busy lives and today might have include some busyness. If so I hope you find at least a night of rest!

I opened my journey of mission here at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Pelham Manor, NY yesterday evening and continued my invitation to join me on mission today with four more masses. We had a wonderful celebration today and I am hopeful for a good gather tomorrow for the beginning of the mission. I ask your continued prayers for the faith community at OLPH and their preacher that we might be gifted with a journey to the mountain top these next few days as we celebrate a time of mission.

Blessings go out to everyone night. I pray that we all have a restful and peaceful night that will nourishes and refreshes us for the journey of a new week and whatever it brings to our life! Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul