Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

2nd Sunday of Lent (March 7, 2004)

Suggested Emphasis

"This is my chosen Son; listen to him."

Salesian Perspective

Last Sunday Jesus was led to the desert by the Holy Spirit to fast and to be tested by Satan. Jesus won that battle against temptation through his knowledge of the truth and his fidelity to his Father's plan for all or us. During his trial in the desert, Jesus chose to listen to and heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

We, too, are tempted to fall away from the discipline of Lent, especially when we catch ourselves breaking a resolution we made at the beginning of this holy season. It is hard to continually fast from all that diverts us from listening to Christ. It is a struggle to find times and places of solitude where we can be attentive to the urgings of the Holy Spirit. How does one muster up the courage to give of oneself, one's words, actions, whatever it takes, for the cause of righteousness, justice, and, above all, charity? In all this our human frailty comes into play. At times we stumble and fall; we gorge ourselves on sinful thoughts, words, actions, and inaction. Our prayer life begins to weaken and slip away; living in the fast lane deprives us of that peace and tranquility so necessary for prayer and reflection. We turn the other way when called to take a stand or practice what we preach. We can lose our focus and easily lose hope.

However, it is during these times of possible despair that we must refocus on the light of Christ and hear his gentle word in our hearts and know that, notwithstanding our frail humanity, He became one of us in order to help us along the way and give us hope to carry on in spite of ourselves. Peter, James, and John were shown the Transfiguration to remind them of who Jesus really was - the chosen son of God. They were to listen to him and learn of their true citizenship in heaven all the while journeying with Him: through His rejection by the religious and political leaders, through the loss of many disciples who could not bear to listen to his message, through their own cowardice and sinfulness as they deserted him in his hour of agony and death.

Francis de Sales tells us that "beholding the defects of the Saints, while admiring their lives, we learn how great is the Goodness of God." Peter, James, and John - Moses and Elijah, for that matter - were human and I am sure they had their moments of depression, doubt, and despair in their attempts to listen to God - as do we. Francis also tells us that "if you should fail and commit some of your own faults, do not be disheartened, but rise up and go on again as though you had not fallen.

The Church presents us with the Transfiguration at this moment in Lent to give us the same message of hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel, but there is also light throughout our journey. We only have to listen to Him as he speaks to us at worship, as we read His holy Word, as we live out each day.

Joseph A. DiMauro, OSFS, is Director of projecTELL and ESL Training at
De Sales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania.