This Sunday’s liturgy focuses on faith and trust in God and gives us a kind of preview of Christ’s resurrection in the Gospel reading of the transfiguration.
These themes form an excellent background for a special penitential rite or scrutiny that is celebrated today with already-baptized candidates who are preparing for reception into the church at Easter.
It is interesting to note that the transfiguration story is revisited on August 6 with its own feast and a very different liturgy focusing on triumph, praise, and exaltation.
Marion Eagen, a liturgist and musician in the diocese of Scranton, Pa. © 2002 Resource Publications, Inc., 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. All rights reserved.
March 3, 2010, 7:00 pm is the Lenten Penance Service of our Parish.
Come and receive the loving forgiveness of God.
Bring your family!
Good News Reflection: Second Sunday of Lent C
Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 27:1, 7-9, 13-14; Phil 3:17--4:1
Luke 9:28b-36
In this Sunday's Gospel reading, we see Jesus reveal the uncreated light of his true identity and we hear the Father say, "This is my chosen Son; LISTEN TO HIM."
We experience Christ's deepest identity every time we listen to him and allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten our understanding of his words and guidance.
By listening to him, we let his uncreated light consume the darkness that still lingers within us. Then, the people around us experience more of him, because they meet him in us – in our actions, in our compassion, in our forgiveness, etc. This is evangelization!
Lent is a time of concentrating on our need for Christ to shed his light into our areas of darkness. When we let Jesus enlighten us so that we repent (which means change), seeking and receiving forgiveness and the Holy Spirit's power to change, we become more like Christ. We shine more brilliantly with him. And we enter more fully into his ministry of redeeming the world. Although there is suffering in this ministry, we know that the pain of Good Friday is always followed by the victory of Easter.
It's in the trials and sacrifices of life – our own crucifixions – where our holiness changes the world. Do we dare follow Jesus all the way to Calvary? It's the only way to get to Easter! Our trials are his blood being shed again. Our pains are his pains. We're already on the cross with Jesus! So why not embrace this extreme intimacy with him for the sake of those who've scourged us and betrayed us? By loving those who don't love us, forgiving those who mistreat us, and working hard to replace evil with the kingdom of God, we reveal the light of Christ to those who live in darkness.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
Think of a redemption you've experienced, an area of darkness in your life that Jesus shed his light upon when he inspired you to repent. How has this change increased your holiness? What is he inviting you to change now, something that's been difficult to look at or hard to overcome? What would you like to hear from Jesus that will help you turn this darkness into holiness? After you figure it out, take this to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Why is the Passion of Christ your passion? What crosses are you carrying that you hope will help Christ redeem the world from sin and darkness? How does your cross purify your own holiness?
© 2010 Terry Modica, Catholic Digital Resources, www.catholicdr.com. Printed by permission.
To view or subscribe to daily Good News Reflections, visit www.gnm.org.
A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be re-enacted
by members of our Confirmation program on Friday, March 12th and March 19th at 7:00 PM.
Please be advised that this will not be the traditional Stations of the Cross but will be a dramatization of the Passion of Christ. Everyone is invited to attend.
REMINDER TO PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN OUR FIRST EUCHARIST PROGRAM: There is a mandatory meeting for parents only on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:00 PM in Rooms 4 & 5 of the Parish Center. Child care is available by calling the Religious Education Office at extension 204.
REMINDER TO PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN CONFIRMATION YEAR-2: There is a mandatory Day of Reconciliation on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon in the church. Parents, students and their sponsors should attend.
FAITH LIFE TEEN MINISTRY
St. John’s Faith Life Teen Ministry is seeking college age students and adults who are interested in volunteering to minister to high school teens in grades 9-12. You would serve with a team of youth and adults headed by St. John’s youth minister, Lynne True. Contact Info: Lynne True phone #744-0869 (H) or email: sjfaithlife@gmail.com
FAITH LIFE Teen Ministry for high school students will continue to meet each Thursday from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm in rooms 4 & 5 of the parish center. Please note that FAITH LIFE will not be scheduled for Holy Thursday, April 1st of Holy Week.
The Transfiguration
Jesus’ Transfiguration was a moment of hope for the disciples, giving them the strength to endure the future sacrifices they would make as they formed the early Church. As we continue our journey with Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl, let us be mindful that our Lenten sacrifices help to give hope to our brothers and sisters in need.
From the Pastor’s desk…
I bring you peace in the Lord!
I am happy to tell you that there will be more than ten priests who will be available to hear confession this coming March 3, Wednesday 7:00 pm for our Lenten Penance Service. Please bring your family; let us approach the mercy of God and celebrate his forgiving love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Our Catholic Church teaches us that we are all bound by an obligation to faithfully confess our sins (cf 1457). This reminds us that we, who are baptized Christians, should be aware that we are all sinners and in need of the grace of forgiveness; and the ordinary way to obtain this forgiveness of God is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During this season of Lent let us humbly approach and enter into this door of mercy, the confession; and allow the Holy Spirit to help us dispose into the penitential spirit of this season and to recognize the sins that are enslaving and destroying others and us. Remember, what we don’t face, we cannot deal with, and what we will not deal with, will not be healed. Indeed, the Catholic Catechism of the Church says this so well:
“When Christ's faithful strive to confess all the sins that they
can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the
divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and
knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine
goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest,
"for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to
the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know." (CCC 1456)
May our preparation for the joy of Easter be a transforming moment, and may the healing forgiveness of God takes place in your life and in your family through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
With my prayers to you and your family,
Fr. Manny Hewe
“If our prayer is resolutely united with that of Jesus, in trust and boldness as children, we obtain all that we ask in his name, even more than any particular thing: the Holy Spirit himself, who contains all gifts.” (CCC 2742)
PRAY FOR OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS:
Healing/Blessings – Fay Molina-Sagon, Leilani Mueller, Rose Sagocio, Ron Thames, Sebastian Valadez Perez, Mercedes Valadez Perez, Isabella Valadez, Rita Galicinao, Marjorie Randolp and everyone mentioned in our Prayer Intentions Book.
Deceased: Krystle Good, Millie Rynders, Sarah Ruiz, Romeo Saludes, and Maria Asuncion
MASS INTENTIONS:
Monday, March 1, 2010
8am Mass William Paul Harrison (RIP)
Dr. Thomas McNorton (RIP)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
8am Mass Mary Alice Roberson (RIP)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
8am Mass Andrea Perlas (Blessing/Thanksgiving)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
8am Mass Mildred Rynders (RIP)
For all souls in purgatory
Friday, March 5, 2010
8am Mass Nana Hoefler (RIP)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
8am Mass Krystal Good (RIP)
For all souls in purgatory
5 pm Mass Goerge & Doris Bras
Sunday, March 7, 2010
7am Mass Elsie Rivera (RIP)
9am Mass Sean Scott (Blessing/Thanksgiving)
11am Mass Alika Rivera (RIP)
6pm Mass For the People
