"Lent 2008" at:
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Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert
which you can use at your local church to keep up to date on what the Holy
Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
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Sunday, February 17, 2008, Second Sunday of Lent
Genesis 12:1-4, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, Psalm 33, Matthew 17:1-9
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/021708.shtml
WAKE-UP CALL
"Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high
mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before their eyes. His face
became as dazzling as the sun, His clothes as radiant as light." —Matthew
17:1-2
The key to the Christian life is to "keep our eyes fixed on Jesus" (Heb
12:2). When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can resist temptation (Heb
12:2-4), walk on the water of all our problems (Mt 14:29), endure
persecution, forgive our enemies, and lay down our lives for Christ (Acts
7:56ff). By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we become more aware of His presence
and grow deeper in love with Him. However, the danger in fixing our eyes
on Jesus (or anyone else), is to become so accustomed to Jesus that we
take Him for granted. So, instead of growing in love we grow in apathy.
To reawaken us to Jesus' glory, we need to occasionally go up with Jesus
on a high mountain and see Him transfigured. The mountain may be a
healing, a tragedy, a special spiritual experience, a surprising
revelation, etc. On this mountain we see Jesus in glory. We fall to our
knees and say: "Because of this we no longer look on anyone in terms of
mere human judgment. If at one time we so regarded Christ, we no longer
know Him by this standard" (2 Cor 5:16). "Now all is new!" (2 Cor 5:17)
With this renewed awareness of Jesus, we listen to Him more carefully (Mt
17:5), obey Him more strictly, and love Him more dearly.
Prayer: Father, as we begin this Lent, give us the grace to see Jesus
transfigured.
Promise: "He [Jesus] has robbed death of its power and has brought life
and immortality into clear light through the gospel." —2 Tm 1:10
Praise: Praise Jesus, Who has conquered sin and death!
(For a related teaching, order our tape on "Apathy" on audio AV 61-3 or
video V-61.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
February 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati,
August 14, 2007
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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