The key that unlocks the purpose and goal of Lent is discovered by reflecting on what last weekend’s Gospel account so vividly describes. The physical body of Christ underwent a radical change of the mountaintop in the presence of Peter, James and John.
(Bishop Loverde is from the diocese of Arlington, Virginia. This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)
“Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them….” Now, the Greek word used implies a “profound change” and the only other time in the New Testament this same Greek word is used is to describe a profound change in the Mystical Body of Christ, His Church. So then, the same word implying a profound change is used both in terms of Christ’s physical body and of Christ’s Mystical Body.
As members of the Church, you and I are part of the Body of Christ in this world. Just as the physical body of Christ underwent profound change, so now Christ’s Mystical Body, His Church, including you and me, is meant to undergo a similar and profound change. We are called by God, from Baptism onwards, to become radically changed — transformed — into a clearer image or reflection of Christ.
Lent is the season for becoming transformed more into Christ’s image, for experiencing this radical change in mind, heart and will, because during Lent we live more intensely the way we are called to live all year long: living so that the image of Christ is revealed within us and made more present in our world. Yes, the key which unlocks the purpose and goal of Lent is this profound — radical — change taking place in us who are the Body of Christ.
Where does this profound change take place? Certainly, in us as individuals, but also as the members of a parish where, as our Holy Father reminds us, the Church finds its most immediate and visible expression. Imagine what will happen to a parish as each member becomes more and more transformed into Christ’s image! Imagine what will happen to a diocese as each parish becomes a more visible expression of Christ’s presence! Each diocese, composed of all her parishes, will shine forth with the light of the Gospel — a beacon inviting all to come to Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
How does this profound change take place? By our heeding the advice of the Father in Sunday’s Gospel account. “This is my beloved Son! Listen to him.” How do we listen to Jesus? By entering into communion with Him through prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist. Prayer takes many forms. Among these is our meditation on God’s Word, especially the Gospels, which focus so directly on Jesus. As we listen to Jesus, He invites us to deeper union with God, to fast and do penance, to reach out to the needy. And these are the three principle works of Lent, are they not: prayer, fasting, almsgiving?
As we listen to Jesus, He invites us to follow in His footsteps. The Stations of the Cross enable us not only to trace the steps of Christ’s journey to Calvary and to His death on the cross for our salvation, but also to relive those steps in our lives. As parishioners, you must relive these stations in your lives, thereby becoming more transformed into the image of Jesus, Lord and Savior of us all. In fact, the more that we all allow Christ’s journey to the Cross to be relived within us, the more will we will be like Him, having undergone a profound change.
Yes, early in Lent, we are being invited and, in fact, urged, to experience that profound change, which is the ultimate purpose and goal of this holy season. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and listening to Him more attentively, we too can say with Peter: “Lord, it is good that we are here” — here in Lent, here on our annual retreat where we are responding to Your call to repentance and a change of heart, so that, expressing a profound change, we may shine forth clearly and faithfully as Your Mystical Body, Your other Presence, Your Church in the modern world. Amen!
