Rev.
Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
SECOND SUNDAY
IN LENT
(REMINISCERE)
The Introit of this day's
Mass, which begins with the word Reminiscere, from which this Sunday
derives its name, is the prayer of a soul begging God's assistance,
that she may sin no more:
INTROIT
Remember, O Lord, Thy compassions and Thy mercies, which are from
the beginning, lest at any time our enemies rule over us: deliver
us O God of Israel, from all our tribulations. To Thee O Lord, have
I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not
be ashamed. (Ps. XXIV.) Glory be to the Father, etc.
COLLECT
O God, who seest us to be destitute of strength, keep us
both inwardly and outwardly; that we may be defended in the body
from all adversities, and cleansed in our mind from all evil thoughts.
Through our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE
(I Thess. IV. 1-7.) Brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord
Jesus, that as you have received of us, how you ought to walk, and
to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.
For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should
abstain from fornication; that every one of you should know how
to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the passion
of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God: and that no man over-reach
nor circumvent his brother in business; because the Lord is the
avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have
testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto
sanctification; in Christ Jesus our Lord.
EXPLANATION
From these words we see, that the great Teacher of Nations as carefully
showed the Christian congregations the sanctity of their calling,
as he labored to lead them from the blindness and abominations of
heathenism.
ASPIRATION
Grant, O God, that I may live an honest, chaste and holy life in
accordance with my vocation, and go not after earthly and carnal
pleasures, as the heathens who know Thee not.
GOSPEL
(Matt. XVII. 1-9.) At that time, Jesus took Peter, and James, and
John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:
and he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the
sun, and his garments became white as snow. And behold, there appeared
to them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then Peter answering,
said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt,
let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses,
and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud
overshadowed them, and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And the
disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid.
And Jesus came and touched them, and said to them: Arise, and fear
not. And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus.
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying:
Tell the vision to no man: till the Son of Man be risen from the
dead.
Why
was Christ transfigured in the presence of His apostles on Mount
Thabor?
To permit them
to see the glorious majesty of His divinity; to guard them from
doubts when they should afterwards see Him die on Mount Calvary;
to encourage the disciples and all the faithful to be patient in
all crosses and afflictions, for the bodies of the just at the resurrection
will be made like the glorified body of Christ. (Phil. III. 21.)
Why
did Moses and Elias appear there?
That they might
testify, that Jesus was really the Saviour announced by the law
and the prophets, and that the law and the prophets received fulfillment
in Him. The former was represented by Moses, the latter by Elias.
Why,
did Peter wish to build three tabernacles there?
The delightful
sweetness of the apparition in which Jesus made him participator
so enraptured him, that he knew not what he said, not considering
that glory can be attained only through sufferings, the crown through
fight, joy through crosses and afflictions.
ASPIRATION Draw
us, O Jesus, to Thee, that by the contemplation of the sacred joys
awaiting us, we, by Thy grace, may not be defeated in the spiritual
contest, but conquer through Thy grace and carry off the unfading
crown of victory.
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