Second Wednesday of Lent

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”   Matthew 17:5

In this middle of Peter’s request to set up camp on the mountain, God the Father interrupts him. Matthew records here the same words spoken at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River (3:17): “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

God does not stop loving Jesus, even though he allows his beloved Son to undergo suffering and death. It does not please the Father to see his children suffer. There is no greater mystery and tragedy, nothing that seems to make less sense than the death of someone we love, especially if the time and circumstances seem random or wrong. God does not give us any easy answers. Instead, he gives us his Son, to be with us always, especially in times of suffering and death.

Today, spend some quiet time, away from distractions, to “listen to him” as the Father tells us to do.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.