Second Sunday of Lent

It seems odd to have the Gospel of the Transfiguration during Lent; maybe counterintuitive. But Luke's Gospel has the clue: Moses and Elijah, appearing in glory on the mountain, conversed with Jesus precisely about his own upcoming "exodus." (That's also Luke's way of interpreting the Passion and Death of Jesus as the fulfillment of the ancient covenant.) Church tradition reads the Transfiguration as the foretelling of the Resurrection. Peter, of course, wanted to stay put there on the mountain. Who can blame him?

The discipline that characterizes Lent can help train our wills to keep taking those steps, down the mountain and into a life of discipleship, even when that means the cross. The Transfiguration promises that darkness does not have the last word.

Today that much-hyped "graveside discovery" will be on TV, attempting to turn a big profit. I was saddened to learn that the accompanying book was #5 on Amazon yesterday. How can we proclaim the real Jesus to people who are obviously so interested in the truth about him?

Best Catholic Books for Lent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiBj2XlTF74 Don't have much time? Here's the two-minute version: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2535165461305184750
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