Holy Infant Catholic Church
Father Michaels Weekly Thoughts
WEEKLY THOUGHTS SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT MARCH 1st, 2026.
Dear friends, welcome to the celebration of the Second Sunday of Lent and first Sunday in the month of March 2026. Let us be thankful to God for all the blessings received over the past month of February. In the first Reading of last Sunday; Gn 2: 7-9, 3:1-7 we heard of the fall of the test God had put before Adam and Eve our great grandparents. They chose to listen to the serpent rather than God, disobeying God. They failed the test.
The Readings of this Sunday appeal to us to listen to God and do his will. In Genesis 12:1- 4 God put Abraham to the test and Abraham obeyed and passed the test. “Go forth from the land of your kinfolk and from your father’s house.” Faith and obedience to God earned Abraham to be the Icon of faith and Father of all believers in God. Because of his faith and obedience, God promised him to be the Father of a great nation.
The Gospel of Matthew 17: 1-9 narrates to us the event of the Transfiguration of Jesus witnessed by Peter, James and John at the mountain top of prayer. “His face shone like the sun.” Jesus appeared talking to Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the Law or ten commandments received by Moses from God at Horeb mountain. Elijah represents the last prophet announcing the messianic age or time. This Elijah who preceded the coming of the Messiah is indeed John the Baptist. He also preceded Jesus in birth and death. Hence, Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah with a mission of saving mankind from sin through suffering, death and eventually his glorious resurrection.
At the transfiguration event, a voice from the cloud was heard; ”This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” A similar message was heard at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan waters by John the Baptist; “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” (Mt 3:18) Then Jesus told his tormented apostles; “Rise and do not be afraid. Share this vision after my resurrection- share this event predicting my suffering and death after my glorious resurrection.”
The apostles expected a political messiah. They did not expect the Messiah to suffer and die on the cross. This still poses a dilemma for us to understand the glory of God through the suffering and death of Jesus.
Let us pray at this time of Lent to listen to God’s invitation to embrace the cross that may feature in our lives in different forms.
May the Spirit of Jesus help us to make the right decisions to transform our lives to Christ-like and holiness as we endeavor to be at the mountain of prayer and reflection.
Let us pray for our 14 Catechumens preparing to embrace the Catholic faith as today will be officially enrolled in the Rite of Election at Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Roanoke, VA today Sunday March 1st at 3.00 pm.
Have a blessed week and month of March.