SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

FIRST READING: Genesis 12:1-4

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-10, 20, 22

SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 1:8-10

GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1-9



When Francis prayed in the wilds and in solitary places, he would fill the woods with sighs, water the earth with his tears, beat his breast with his hand, and there, making the most of a more intimate, secret place, he often spoke aloud to the Lord. He would give an account to his Judge, entreat his Father, speak with his Friend, chat amiably with his Bridegroom. Indeed, in order to offer to God with every fiber of his being a single, multifaceted holocaust, he would ponder the many facets of him who is Supremely One.

Celano -Second Life – 95


While sitting in front of a fireplace my mind was completely absorbed by the vision of one of the burning logs. I became the log, a completely worthless hunk of wood having been thrown into the fireplace. As I was consumed by the fire, the words of St. John of the Cross came racing into my mind:

“Let's look at this loving knowledge and divine light like a fire. Fire transforms wood into fire. When fire touches wood, the first thing it does is that it begins to dry the wood out. It drives away moisture, causing the wood to shed the tears it has held inside itself. Then the wood blackens, turning dark and ugly; it may even give off a bad odor. Little by little, the fire desiccates the wood, bringing out and driving away all those dark and unsavory accidents that are contrary to the nature of fire. Finally, heating up and enkindling the wood from outside, the fire transforms the wood into itself, rendering the wood as beautiful as the fire is.”

It is only after being stripped of all that I am inside that I am finally able to be completely consumed with Your fire, O Lord. Then I am made perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect. Only then am I able to be transformed from a worthless piece of wood into a magnificient, glorious, all-consuming fire. Only then can I radiate Your light for Your people to see. Only then can I radiate the warmth of Your presence.

(Submitted by a brother from the Portiuncula Hermitage/Retreat Center)