In our recent spring newsletter, the Prior Provincial, Fr Kevin Alban has suggested how we might understand the gospel for each of the five Sundays of Lent, and how we might pray them. Each week, we'll add these reflections to this website so you can read them and prepare for the Gospel before Sunday:

Second Sunday of Lent: 17 March 2019 – Luke 9

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

Jesus offers three of his disciples an insight into his future beyond the Passion and the Crucifixion that he has just predicted in the verses before his “transfigured” appearance. Two figures from the Old Testament appear with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. The first reminds us of the liberation of the people of Israel from exploitation in Egypt and the journey to the Promised Land. On that journey, Moses receives the Ten Commandments which show the people how they are to live in this new relationship with God. Elijah is a key figure in defending true belief and true worship in Israel against the paganism prevalent in his day. He has a uniquely defining experience of God on Mount Horeb as he encounters the Lord in “the sound of sheer silence”.

I hope that Lent proves to be a fruitful time for you. One way of deepening our appreciation of this season might be to read the Sunday gospel during the preceding week so that when we hear it again at Mass we are really familiar with it.

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