A time of Mercy

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. In yesterday’s post the point was made by Jesus that judgment comes to all people unless they repent. There is a universality of judgment. Then as now, the listener will easily call to mind a person considered worthy of divine judgment and punishment. There then lingers the unspoken question of timing. “As God will, can’t that divine punishment come now for this one?” Of course we are often reminded not to judge or regard others as more deserving of God’s judgment than ourselves. Continue reading →

Judgment comes

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. The warnings and admonitions regarding the coming judgment that began with 12:1 reach their conclusion with a sobering call for repentance. Just as the debtor on the way to court in 12:57-59 is warned to make every effort at reconciliation, so also Jesus uses the sayings about calamity in 13:1–5 and the parable of the unproductive fig tree in 13:6–9 to make the same point: Repent now, for the time is short. Continue reading →

A context

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year C. For parishes with active RCIA programs it is also the beginning of the Lenten Scrutinies when the catechumens/elect (those awaiting baptism) are present at Mass. The presider has the option to use the readings from Year A. So, if this Sunday you are wondering why the Johannine gospel of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman at the well is proclaimed, you’ll know why! In this post we will stay with the Year C readings. Continue reading →

Peter’s Response

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Lent in Lectionary Cycle C taken from the Gospel of Luke 9:28-32 describing the Transfiguration of Jesus.

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.” (vv.32-33) Continue reading →

Moses and Elijah

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Lent in Lectionary Cycle C taken from the Gospel of Luke 9:28-32 describing the Transfiguration of Jesus: “And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” (vv.30-31)

The presence of Elijah and Moses has been much discussed by various scholars. (1) Do they represent the different kinds of life endings (burial versus being taken up to God)? (2) Is their presence an indication of endorsement by great prophets and wonderworkers of old? (3) Is Jesus the fulfillment of the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) – and so listen to him? (4) Or is it that Moses points to the expected great-prophet-like Moses, while Elijah suggests the eschaton’s (end days) arrival – roles fulfilled in Jesus. Continue reading →

The Transfiguration

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Lent in Lectionary Cycle C taken from the Gospel of Luke 9:28-32 describing the Transfiguration of Jesus. “While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.” (v.29)

Both Matthew and Mark starkly report: “And he was transfigured (metamorphōthē) before them.” The underlying Greek word means to “transform, change completely.” Luke uses the more mundane heteron (change) and limits the description to his face. All the accounts agree that the clothing became a brilliant white; Luke using the word that sometimes describes the white flash of lightning. Continue reading →

Praying on the Mountain

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Lent in Lectionary Cycle C taken from the Gospel of Luke 9:28-32 describing the Transfiguration of Jesus: “About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.” (v.28)

Characteristically Luke tells us that Jesus went to the mountain to pray. This is a key motif in the Lucan narrative. In the gospel and in Acts, Luke continually points to people achieving the proper attitude and posture before God through the discipline of prayer which Luke repeatedly highlights. He has several principal ways of doing this: Continue reading →

To the mountain top

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Lent in Lectionary Cycle C taken from the Gospel of Luke 9:28-32 describing the Transfiguration of Jesus. The Transfiguration event is also described in Mt 17:1-9 and Mk 9:2-10 – readings that are traditionally proclaimed on the 2nd Sunday of Lent in their own respective liturgical years as well as on the Feast of the Transfiguration each August 6th.

The Lenten use of the reading, following the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert by the devil, breaks up the flow of Luke narrative. Perhaps a summary of what has transpired since the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time can bring us into context: Continue reading →

The third test

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent and the gospel is the temptation/testing of Jesus in the desert. The climactic scene occurs in Jerusalem, where the devil takes Jesus to the “parapet” of the Temple.

9 Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Continue reading →

The second test

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Friar Musings

This coming Sunday is the first Sunday in Lent and the gospel is the temptation/testing of Jesus in the desert. From the mundane of concerns about daily bread, we are taken to the lofty heights.

5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8 Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’”