Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, 
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them; 
his face shone like the sun 
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here, 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
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.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes, 
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone 
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”  MT 17:1-9

Today, Jesus gives us hope early on in Lent and reminds us that we are not meant to stay stuck in our suffering, but the reward is the resurrection, eternal life.  Jesus gives the great gift of the Transfiguration which is a preface to the resurrection to Peter, James, and John.  The Apostles, after seeing Jesus’s many miracles were still lacking faith, so Jesus went up to the mountain and was transfigured.  He knew they needed to understand that Jesus came to fulfill the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah), He is the true Messiah.  They had given up everything to follow Him.  Yet, they are still scared when He is taken away to be crucified, except John.  Peter still denies Him three times.  Judas betrays Him.  It is not until Mary prays with them and Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon them that they go preaching to all nations the Gospel and die for Jesus.

We, too, can be like the Apostles and continue to need hope in our suffering (day to day crosses or tragedy), in our sacrifice, in our fasting, in our belief, and in our prayer life.  After Jesus does resurrect, He commissions the twelve saying to all of us, “Go, therefore,* and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,20i teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  MT 28:19-20

Jesus has our back.  He never ever leaves us.  He is carrying us in our suffering.  He still wants you to invite Him into your suffering, into your day, good or bad, and offer it up to receive grace to push through everything.  May the hope of the Transfiguration which prefigures the resurrection help you in your Lenten fast, prayer, and giving of yourself to others (be a servant).  If you have failed in your fast, so have I.  If you have quit, start again.  If you need to reevaluate and adjust your fast so that you are loving Jesus more for His love for you and really need to try harder to atone for your sins, then do it.  

Our faith is a faith of perseverance, losing, getting back up and trying again, with God’s grace anything is possible.  He gives us everything we need, today He gives us hope.  The sinner can be transformed through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and made holy.  Thank you, Jesus!

Today’s challenge: Reflect on the positive in your life.  It’s Sunday, the day the Lord resurrected. Take time to recognize all of the gifts and blessings Christ has given you in your life.  Be filled with joy in hope of your resurrection through Christ’s.

Be a servant, become a saint!
​#Christian YOLO