The foundations of hope

Pope Leo the Great states that the Transfiguration was for the purpose of removing the scandal of the cross from the hearts of the disciples. It was also Christ laying the foundation of hope for the Church. All of us have been given the hope of eternal life and the promise of redemption, but it requires work, conversion, and picking up our cross each day. Discipleship is not easy, and requires at times that we swallow our pride, our wants and our desires and place them with love in the hands of God and Neighbor. Lent is listening to the voice of God furstm and living and acting on it first, and then doing the human tasks that direct our lives.

Lent challenges us to be like Abraham in the first reading and be obedient to the will of God; Abraham’s greatness will come later. Jesus’ glory prefigured in his Transfiguration was to destroy death and bring life and immortality for all. Both men listened and trusted in the Father’s voice and so must we listen in prayer during this Lenten Season.

This is a week of quiet prayer and an openness to listen to the Lord, not to tell Him what we want. This could be the most difficult of weeks for it is never easy to listen without a positive defense or offensive position for self. God only asks us to hope and listen.

As we approach the Feast of St. Patrick we might realize, “that the country of Ireland and life are similar for Ireland, for good or evil, is like no other place under Heaven and no man can touch its sod or breathe its air without becoming better or worse,” so states George Bernard Shaw. How true that is of life also! In Lent, it is the good and the better of the statement that we need to seek. We need to “go forth” from our comfort zone, and as Peter, James and John were told to go forth, so must we with a new vision of the Lord and the challenge to act and live in hope. No flaming chariot will deliver Jesus as it did Elijah but Jesus will go forth pick up His Cross and give us the example and hope to move in faith! To listen and act in union with Jesus is good and better, and we need build no tent as Peter desired for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, for they will live in our hearts. Jesus is the living tent within that feeds and nourishes us to be the best but we have to allow Him in! Just as Peter, James and John had to come down from the mountain and face reality.

As Daylight Savings Time begins, so we have more light and day to share our faith, hope and love and to listen to the beginnings of Spring. Change is never easy; it shakes us from our complacency and asks us to examine our lives, patterns and habits and alter our actions. Are you willing to change from and in the heart by trusting and acting more in faith?

Try to live more in hope this week. As it is stated, to live in Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs. May it be so for YE!

As we approach the Feast of St. Patrick wemight realize, “that the country of Ireland and life are similar for Ireland, for good or evil, is like no other place under Heaven and no man can touch its sod or breathe its air without becoming better or worse,” so states George Bernard Shaw.