#sermon #catholic

• There are two times during Lent when the Church tries to give us a boost and encourage us to persevere in our Lenten practices. One time, of course, is Laetare Sunday, which occurs just after the halfway point of Lent. The other time is today, when we are a quarter of the way through Lent.
• The fact that the Church tries to encourage us today indicates to us that we should already be feeling a bit worn out by our Lenten resolutions. We should be needing a second wind.
• If we have not yet made any resolutions for Lent, we must be sure to do so today. If we are finding our resolutions easy, perhaps we should add something to them that is more difficult.
• For those of us who are worn out, the Church gives us encouragement in the same way that Our Lord chose to encourage the Apostles right before His crucifixion. He did it by becoming transfigured before them.
• The Church shows us that she really wants to reflect carefully on this episode in Our Lord’s life by giving us the same Gospel two days in a row, for Ember Saturday and today. She only does this one other time, Ember Saturday in Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
• This transfiguration is encouraging for us because it shows the glory that will come at the end of our struggles. If we persevere in the Catholic life, if we continue carrying our Cross and being faithful, one day we will enter heavenly glory.
• Our garments will be as white as snow because of the radiance of our body. Our body will shine brighter than the sun.
• Just as when there is a contest, the contestants are shown the prize that will be awarded to the winner before they start the contest. Seeing the prize encourages those who are competing. When they are in the midst of the competition, they think about what they will earn if they win and they continue in their efforts.
• So, too, for us, a quarter of the way through Lent and a certain percentage of the way through our life. We might be weary of our duty of state and the daily grind. We might be weary fighting against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then, we remind ourselves: if I persevere, I will win an eternal crown. I will be happy forever. I will receive a glorified body that will never suffer.
• This vision of Our Lord’s glory had a huge impact on St. Peter. He mentions it as definitive proof of Our Lord’s divinity in his second epistle, “We were not following fictitious tales when we made known to you the power and coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his grandeur. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when from out the majestic glory a voice came down to him. And this voice we ourselves heard borne from heaven when we were with him on the holy mount” (2 Pet. 1:16-18)
• This vision of Our Lord’s glory really happened. And it is a real proof of the glory we will have.