Second week of Lent, Transfiguration of the Lord: Prayer and Listen

Fr. Anto’s homily for the second week of Lent focused on prayer, one of the three Lenten disciplines (Fasting and Almsgiving are the other disciplines that help open us to recognize God’s grace). The Gospel reading was the Transfiguration of the Lord.  The beginning the Gospel, Luke 9:28-29 is as follows:

Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.

Jesus leads his disciples to get away from the cares of the disciples’ world and to take some time for prayer.  As Jesus was praying he was changed, transfigured into his glorified body.  We can also be changed through prayer.    Prayer helps us in transforming our hearts to be more Christ like.  

What is prayer?   It is a relationship with God.   Many times are prayers are asking God for something we need help with.   That is one of the most common types of prayer we think of. We often ask in pray petitioning the Lord to give us something or come to our aid.  Other prayers we should also do are prayers of thanks and praise.   An often-overlooked part of prayer is listening to God. In order to be in a relationship with God we need to have two-way communication.   The Old Testament gives us some good examples of prayer and Father Anto spoke about God calling Samuel and also Daniel's prayer and reliance of God.   Take some time to read this stories and reflect on how to listen to God in your prayer life.    Also consider just praying by quietly listening to the Lord. 

A good place to do this is in Eucharistic Adoration.  Every Wednesday there is Eucharistic Adoration form 7 am to 5:30 pm, first Fridays from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, and the first Sunday of the month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.  May your ears be open to listen to the Lord.  God bless.