Lenten Reflections: Week 2

Hey guys! Here's the Reflection for week 2. Sorry its a bit late coming. Week 3 is coming right up!

Word – Mark 9:2-10

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. 
Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 Then Peter spoke to Jesus, 'Rabbi,' he said, 'it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' 
He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. 7 And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.' 
Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. 
They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what 'rising from the dead' could mean. 

Drawing From Life Experience

After an intense spiritual experience in Lourdes, Tommy decided that he wanted to be a Catholic. His wife Kira was happy that her husband would finally join her in faith and help her in catechising their young child. Tommy's baptism filled his heart with great enthusiasm to serve in his parish. So Tommy joined the lector's ministry and the Society of St Vincent de Paul. In addition, he also signed up to be a sponsor in the RCIA. Tommy told Kira once, "I find so much joy and meaning in serving God this way!"

Tommy soon became a familiar face around the parish because he was involved in so many group activities. He was practically in church every weeknight. People would praise him for setting an example of what being an active Catholic was about; "Look at how committed Tommy is!" they would say to one another. Even the parish priests were impressed with him for being so dedicated and capable in parish affairs. However, Kira was feeling resentful. She had to make adjustments to her own work schedule to accommodate Tommy's long hours at work and church meetings. He often did not return home until late at night. There was seldom family time. During weekends, Tommy would either sleep (to recover his energy) or go out with his new friends from church. Although Kira was frustrated with Tommy she never spoke about it, but sometimes she would think to herself "Tommy was a better husband and father before he became Catholic."

Think About It: How would you deal with this issue if you were in Kira's place?

Meeting God in the Word

Pope John Paul II often referred in his writings to the "cal1 to holiness." This call is God's invitation to each and every baptised Christian to imitate God's own holiness. We are all called to be faithful to the relationship we have with God through our baptism in Christ. Many Catholics interpret the call to holiness in a narrow way. They may think that God will only be happy if they make sacrifices in favour of being active in a church setting. Or that pleasing God means taking on more responsibility in parish ministries. Although these are good endeavors, they are not the normal way for lay people to answer the call to holiness. Let us try to understand the kind of holiness we are called to by reflecting on Scripture.

In our first reading, Abraham was prepared to put his fidelity to God over his fidelity to his own son. While this great act of faith is commendable, the story shows us that God does not require us to sacrifice good family relationships in order to be faithful. It is not God's plan for us to gain holiness at other people's expense, but rather for us to find holiness by not withholding our love from God and others.

People usually associate holiness with the moment of Christ's transfiguration. We receive the impression that to be holy means we must shed our worldliness and be completely focused on the heavenly. Peter's experience of the glorification of Jesus was one of such awe that his first instinct was to try to prolong the moment; "Let us build three tents!" (Mark 9:5) The disciples who had seen Jesus' transfiguration were confused by the Lord's insistence that it was necessary to first rise from the dead. They cannot understand why being faithful to God must involve such difficulty. We, too, can become so focused on glorification that we forget about holiness by trying to escape from walking the way of the cross with Christ in our life.

The bishops of the Second Vatican Council taught the following: "Clearly the fruitfulness of the apostolate of the lay people depends on their living union with Christ. Lay people, while meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, do not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; but through the very performance of their tasks actually promote the growth of their union with Christ. Family cares should not be foreign to their spirituality, nor any other temporal interest." (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, No 4)

Questions to Ponder

What is your own way of holiness and what "sacrifices" are involved in the way you stay faithful in your relationship with God?

Cell Group Prayer Buddy Activity

What challenges have you encountered in during this Lenten season? Share with your prayer buddy and pray for him / her to tide through these difficulties.

Cell Group Work

Just like God asked the disciples to Listen to Jesus, He's also asking us to listen to Him. For the whole of this week, spend time in quiet prayer. Open your heart and mind to listen to what God has to say to you.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

0, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.