Second Sunday of Lent - 2026
Reflection Vespers before Second Sunday in Lent
February 28, 2026
By Sr. Sandra Brunenn
Last Sunday afternoon I watched some of the closing of the Olympics. I was struck by the parade into the stadium. Each participating country had chosen someone to carry their flag in the parade. All the flag-bearers marched in together. After them came all of the Olympians …they entered the stadium as one large group without flags or anything else except the clothing they were wearing separating one country from another. The commentator pointed out that this was a symbol of the deeper reality that had been celebrated at the games: that in truth we are One People. Everyone marching as one expressed our common humanity as well as the hope that our oneness will become more visible in our everyday lives. It symbolized a recognition of who we are at the core as well as who we hope to become. We might say it was a transfiguration moment….
AND in a way this may be seen as a reflection of the experience of Peter, James, and John in our Gospel passage today. They experience for a moment the fullness of who Jesus is. He takes them up the mountain and there they see His glory.
Even though at the center of the story is the transfigured Jesus, it is more a story about what it means to be a disciple than it is a statement about Jesus’ identity. The voice from the cloud says the same thing now as at Jesus’ Baptism: “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. But now there is an added line directed squarely at the disciples….and at us: “Listen to him.” In other words, pay attention to his words, his actions….Watch what he does….Look at the signs everywhere around you and within you….
Peter is inclined to stay on the mountain and bask in the glory…but that is not to be! Jesus himself leads the three back to the valley. That is where they are to continue to listen and live as He is teaching them.
We may on occasion experience moments of deepened awareness of our oneness with God and with all creation. These moments are gifts given to strengthen us in our daily call to be disciples of Jesus.
As I imagine the story of the Transfiguration I prayerfully and playfully wonder: if Jesus were to appear to me today who other than Moses and Elijah might be with him….. who do you think?
I imagine St Benedict and Pope Leo XIV. I think of them speaking to me and sharing their wisdom.
Benedict reaffirms the voice of God: “LISTEN….and adds ‘with the ear of your heart!’ “
Pope Leo has recently said:
“We cannot call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ without participating in his outlook on creation and his care for all that is fragile and wounded.”
Pope Francis, in a homily on this Feast several years ago, said:
“We cannot remain on the mountain and enjoy the bliss of this encounter on our own…We are called to experience the encounter with Christ so that, enlightened by his light, we might take it and make it shine everywhere. Igniting little lights in people’s hearts; being little lamps of the Gospel that bear a bit of love and hope: this is the mission of a Christian.”
May our immersion in this Lenten season strengthen us to live each day fully as disciples of Jesus….
May we listen to Him, ponder His Word in the depths of our hearts, and become little lamps of the Gospel bearing love and hope to one another and all we meet.
Sr. Sandra Brunenn, Feb 28, 2026