Archives for February 2015

When I am walking in a nature park I like to pause on a hilltop periodically to get a sense of the lay of the land. That hilltop experience helps me to see obstacles ahead as well as a good path to take. Something of this hilltop perspective is present in the Liturgy today. Abraham takes Isaac up a mountain and Abraham sees how necessary it is for him to be devoted to God. Jesus takes his three best friends up a mountain and they see him in a new light.

Lent is a time to climb a hill to gain a clearer perspective regarding our walk of faith, hope, and love. Through purposeful prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we see more clearly God’s path ahead for us in being right with God, self, and others. We can make course corrections as necessary.

What does hilltop time look like for you? What do you see? What will you do?

This season of Lent has a two-fold focus. It helps us to go deeper into the meaning of being baptized persons. It also helps us to experience ongoing conversion and repentance. Both of these Lenten themes appear in the Liturgy today.

Noah’s ark prefigures baptism. Being baptized persons puts us in a kind of ark. Because we are baptized into the saving mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection we experience saving effects from the grip of sin and death. The gospel today gives us a synopsis of Jesus’ proclamation: “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

As we begin this season of Lent, reflect on these two themes. How is God inviting you to be appreciative of the saving effects of being a baptized person? How will deeper repentance and conversion (turning to God) be part of your Lent this year?