GOD STRENGTHEN US IN OUR STRUGGLES TO CHANGE

2nd Sunday in Lent
Gen. 12:1-4; 2 Tim 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9


I have a friend named “Robert”. He was a desperate, hard-headed and angry young man. He looked at things negatively, ready to make trouble. He didn’t trust anyone. People labeled him as “Bad Boy” of the town. He ruined himself. He was not just a thief but also a drug addict.

After many years, I met him again. And he is now very different. He is completely changed. He looks inspired and happy. He no longer hates everyone. He became very active in the GKK. In our sharing he said to me, “I want to follow Christ. So I changed my life.” When I asked him if was it difficult for him. He said, “So difficult! Extremely difficult! I have to face pain and suffering. So I pray very hard... and He strengthens me.”

Robert decided to change his life. For him, it’s like gold tested in fire. It’s painful. He has to struggle day by day. In his experience of pain and struggles, God is there to strengthen him.

Our Gospel today tells us the story of how the disciples saw a change in Jesus. Jesus knows that he would suffer and die. He says to his disciples about this again and again. They don’t want Jesus, their master, to suffer and die. It is hard for them to hear it. They are at a loss. They are in the dark!

Realizing that his disciples are depressed, Jesus brings with him Peter, James and John to the mountain for prayers. When Jesus climbs the mountain to pray and to listen to the Father. Before their very eyes, Jesus’ face shines like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white. He shows them his glory. They have an opportunity to see the glory of Jesus. They have the opportunity to look to the divinity of Jesus.

When the disciples saw this vision, it gives them consolation and joy. It is a joy for them that bring them courage and faith in their hearts. It is an assurance for them that there is life after death. There is light after darkness. This experience strengthens them to face the pain and suffering of Jesus. Jesus encourages them and keeps them strong.

Like Robert, he finds that it’s difficult to change. He finds it so painful to follow Jesus. But Jesus, in his grace, keeps him strong. For him, the deep prayer, listening to God and trust in Him is his experience, like the disciples, that strengthened him to change his life.

This holy season of Lent, we are called to change our lives. It’s not easy! There are many trials and struggles. But, Jesus assured us of his grace. Jesus is always with us in our pain and struggles. God is there to keep us strong, to give us strength and courage. If we really want to change our life to follow Jesus, we have to take this challenge - to pray, to listen and to trust in his grace that strengthens us in our struggles to change.

Repent and Believe in the Gospel

First Week of Lent – Wednesday
Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32

“Repent and believe in the Gospel.” These are the words we have heard last Wednesday as the priest marked the cross with ashes on our foreheads.

We, Catholics, profess that they know God. We confess that they heard the Word of God. We come to the Church on Sundays. We go to the Sacrament of Confession for we are sinners. Because we are sinners, there is a need for us to listen to the Word of God, to repent and change our lives.

In our first reading we have heard the story of Jonah. He went to the city of Nineveh and announced the Word of God. When the people of Nineveh heard the message of Jonah, they believed. They were willing to open their hearts to the Word of God. And they were converted. They turned away from their evil ways. The whole city was converted. In them, we see of what we are called to. We are called listen to the Word of God. We are called to change our lives.

Our Lord Jesus in the Gospel today rebukes the people of his time for not reforming their evil ways. He begins to speak to them in strong words: “This is an evil age!” They just seek the sign, but they don’t see the sign. When Jonah preached to the Pagans, they believed. They were willing to open their hearts and listen to the Word of God. But these Jewish people, they know the Word of God, they are Religious, but they don’t want to listen. They are spiritually dumb, spiritually deaf, and spiritually blind. They don’t realize that it’s Jesus who is the sign. Jesus is the Word of God.

If we think of our situation today, we have heard Jesus; we have the Word of God. Of course, we are Christians. Most Filipinos are Christians. But, why do we hate our neighbors? Why don’t we forgive our brothers and sisters? Why do we back-biting each other? If we look at our society today, why there are a lot of killings, abortions, human slavery, prostitution, illegal gambling, drugs, graft and corruption. It is really an evil age! We have the same problem with Jesus’ generation, and even worst! We have the Word of God but we are not listening. If the Lord were standing before us now, he would tell us these same words: “This is an evil age!” But Our God is a merciful God. He is a compassionate God. In Jesus, we are called to truly turn away from our evil ways. He is always calling us to conversion, to true conversion. He is calling us to really listen to the Word of God and live it.

We began our Lent one week ago with ashes. This Lenten season we are reminded to “repent and believe in the Gospel”. Jesus, who is greater than Jonah, who is greater than Solomon, who is greater than anyone else, who is the Word of God, calls us to repent and believe in Him. We are challenged to listen to him, accept Him and allow Him to enter deeply in our hearts, and change our lives.

This is the call, an invitation and a challenge, for each one of us - “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”