March 16, 2025 – Second Sunday of Lent

Our Great Journey

This week is Our Great Journey at Home.

The theme is “Transfigured!” based on Luke 9:28-36 / Lucas 9:28-36

All pray the Sign of the Cross

Lord Jesus Christ, as we look at the crucifix, we remember your suffering, we see your love. May this reminder of your sacrifice help us to give ourselves to others. May we become more loving. Amen.

In addition to our prayers from the heart, our prayer for March is The Rosary. Pray one decade. Children should know which prayers to pray on the beads. www.usccb.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary. Practice learning the Hail Holy Queen to close the Rosary.

Using the Bible, invite a family member to read the Gospel aloud.

Things to talk about:

Peter, James, and John were Jesus’ closest friends. Who are your closest friends? Have you ever talked to them about Jesus? Why or why not?
Based on what you heard in this Gospel, imagine for a moment what Jesus looked like in his glory. In your own words, describe him.
In this Gospel, God the Father speaks words to Peter, James, and John. Share a time when you felt that God spoke to you.
How can we be transfigured to make more room for Jesus to work through us?

Things to do:

Virtual Tour of Mt. Tabor – Transport to Israel to see the very location where the Transfiguration of Christ happened. Project the video on a large TV if possible. Imagine the scene of the Gospel unfolding as you watch the video. Search on YouTube, Landscape of Mount Tabor in 4K Jezreel Valley-Israel
Locate the altar in church. At what point of the Mass does the priest move to the altar? What happens at the altar?
Find a way to practice giving this week. This Lenten observance asks you to give food, goods, time or money to help the poor. Join us at Transfiguration Serves, March 22-23.
Make Soft Pretzels -For a time, pretzels were only eaten during Lent. Make this treat that is shaped like two arms crossed in prayer. The three holes in the twist represent the Holy Trinity. Click HERE for the recipe.

Closing Prayer

Pray a decade of the Rosary -The fourth luminous mystery reflects on the Transfiguration of Jesus. Give each family member a rosary. If you don’t have a rosary, you can use your fingers to follow along. Make the sign of the cross. Pray “The fourth luminous mystery, The Transfiguration of Jesus. 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.” Pray one Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s , One Glory Be.

Name those who need our prayers.

Catholic Insights

On the second Sunday of Lent, we always hear the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration. The Transfiguration occurs on a mountain in the presence of the first disciples who Jesus called—Peter, James and John. In Luke’s account of the Transfiguration, Jesus is praying as his appearance changes to bright white. As will also happen in the Garden of Gethsemane, the three disciples are sleeping while Jesus prayed. As they awake, they see Jesus transfigured and Elijah and Moses, both significant figures in the history of Israel, present with Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel he explains that this conversation is about what is to happen to Jesus in Jerusalem.

Peter calls Jesus “master” instead of his earlier confession that Jesus is the Messiah. As if in reply to Peter’s confusion, a voice from heaven speaks, affirming Jesus as God’s Son and the instruction to “Listen to Him.” Remember Jesus’ baptism, when God spoke directly to Jesus as His Son.

So much to imagine and pray about this Gospel. Stand before our Transfiguration window and pray to be transfigured to know the important work you are called to, to bring about the kingdom of God.

Did you know….The word for pretzel in Latin (bracellae) means “little arms.”

Resources adapted from 52Sundays.com, Celebrating the Lectionary, At Home with the Word, Celebrating Families, Sunday Connection