As we move forward on our Lenten journey of 40 days, we are reminded that the first full week of Lent is about the desert, where Jesus spent 40 days in prayer, fasting and being tempted by the devil. It represents a place of renewal and strength, especially for our interior lives. A place to sort through our own personal desert; we all have experienced it at one time or another in our lives. Through prayer and fasting, we can re-order what is important in our lives, give a high priority to our spiritual being, and where we can do a better job in particular areas of our life. Spiritual growth in our desert happens when we do the work: deepening our conversations with Our Lord, being honest about our failings and making a concerted effort to do better in word and deed.

Week 2 is about the mountain. Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him up to the high mountain to pray (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10, Luke 9:28-36). While praying, Jesus is Transfigured by a blinding light and God the Father’s voice is heard to say “This is my Son, my Chosen One: listen to him.” Jesus wants his disciples to know WHO he really is in preparation for His death to come. The mountain is the symbol for where human meets God, the temporal and the eternal. What we can take away from this according to the Catholic Catechism is this: “The aim of the Transfiguration was to strengthen the apostles’ faith in anticipation of His Passion: the ascent onto the high mountain prepares for the ascent to Calvary. Christ, Head of the Church manifests what his body contains and radiates in the sacraments: ‘the hope of glory’ [CCC 568].

More to come for Week 3 coming up. Happy Lent.

PJP