2nd Sunday of Lent

Pondering on the First Reading and Gospel for today I wonder whether you have ever a) had a spiritual experience? and b) tried to describe that to someone else? Today we hear of the episode of Abraham’s convenant with God and the Transfiguration. In both of them the participants are visited with an experience and message from God. We do not know how long they lasted nor can we verify in any way that they occurred. Has anyone been able to locate the site where Abraham’s covenant was made? Has anyone gone up the mountain of Transfiguration and found evidence of a supernatural event? The answer is no and yet Abraham like the three Apostles had a profound experience which altered the course of their lives.

In the former Abraham is brought to believe in a new homeland and establish a new nation even though he was very old by then. The latter episode has Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah about his own “exodus” which is his Passion, death and Resurrection. These are frightening and awe-inspiring messages yet they empowered the receivers to stay strong even with all the trials that they were later to endure. It helped Peter to recover both from the scandal of the Cross as well as his own denial of the Lord.

My question for us today is have you ever had a supernatural or religious experience? How would describe it using either words, music, art, dance or some other form of communication? Did this experience have an influence on your life or have you bumped into God and simply continued on your way?

Lent is a great time to purify our hearts and therefore our vision to understand better the mission that God has for each one of us. It is the mission that we received in Baptism and Confirmation and which we affirm, in particular, every Easter especially at the Easter Vigil. I encourage all of you to make use of this season and to open you hearts to God. Do not be put off by the mystery or influenced by the prevalent materialism of our culture. Trust in God and ask for him to guide you in your ways.