In today's Gospel we learn about how Jesus took Peter, James and John to Mount Tabor and was transfigured with light before their eyes. This was God's way of strengthening the apostles and preparing them for Jesus' passion which would soon follow.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhzx6pbopcM (Attributed to Catholic Kids Media)
Ask: What were the disciples doing while Jesus was praying? (They were sleeping.) What did they wake up to see? (They saw Jesus transfigured and Jesus talking with Elijah and Moses.) Do you think they understood what they saw? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
Say: If the disciples had stayed asleep, they would have missed this amazing event. They would not have seen Jesus in glory. They would not have heard the voice from heaven. What did the voice say? (“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”)
Say: Our lives can be like this. We can be asleep, not recognizing that Jesus is with us always. During Lent, we try to “wake up” to see Jesus more clearly and to listen to what he tells us. What are some things that we do during Lent to keep ourselves aware of Jesus' presence in our lives? (We fast from food and habits that keep us from God. We pray. We read Scripture. We give alms.)
Prayer of St. Richard: Thank you, Jesus. My friend! My brother! Help me know you more clearly. Help me love you more dearly. Help me follow you more nearly. Amen.
Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
