Second Sunday of Lent

Year of Saint Joseph

In other years: Saint Oswald (-992)

World Rare Diseases Day

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 22 The Sleeping Arrangements of the Monks

Mass: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Resp Ps 116; Mk 9:2-10

From the shining cloud the Father's voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.

HEART OF JESUS, OF INFINITE MAJESTY,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

There may have been times in your life when you did not want to leave the presence of loved ones, or leave places of beauty and grandeur. I think of one time now, some years ago, when I was living with the Benedictine Sisters at Kloster Maria Rickenbach in Switzerland. Beautiful and faithful Benedictines, they live in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. To get to their monastery, it is customary to take a 7 1/2 minute ride on the Luftseilbahn (cable car) from the train stop below. It is also possible to walk up the mountain to the monastery. After two months with them, it was time to literally come down from the mountain where they live, just like Peter, James, and John had to do in today's Gospel. They did not want to come down from the mountain either as Peter said to Jesus: "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" (Mk 9:5). Yet, like the three disciples, we must come down from peak experiences and leave the physical presence of loved ones. We remember though that Jesus, like He was with Peter, James, and John, is with each and every one of us, giving us the strength and courage that we need to carry on spreading the Good News, wherever we find ourselves. In fact, this is the mission of every Christian, as Pope Francis said in today's Angelus Address. The Holy Father put it this way: We are to ignite "little lights in people's hearts; being little lamps of the Gospel that bear a bit of love and hope." And when things get difficult or tense, or "when it comes to obeying the commandments or enduring adversity," preached Pope Saint Leo the Great, "the words uttered by the Father should always echo in our ears: This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope, Office of Readings, Second Sunday in Lent). 

We draw inspiration from the saints and today in particular, Saint Oswald. It is said that Saint Oswald, 10th century Benedictine monk, bishop, archbishop, and commemorated in the Diocese of Birmingham, UK, "had a special love of the poor; in Lent he would wash the feet of twelve poor men every day." There are many ways to wash the feet of others through random acts of kindness and service that bear a bit of love and hope. How might you go about this during the Second Week of Lent, wherever you find yourself, at work, home, or out and about?

SAINT JOSEPH,

SAINT OSWALD,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2021