Daily Gospel

Sunday, 24 February 2013
Second Sunday of Lent - Year C

Bl. Thomas Mary Fusco, Priest (1831-1891)



Commentary of the day
Saint Leo the Great : The glory of the Cross

Reading

Lk 9:28b-36.


About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Saint Leo the Great (?-c.461), Pope and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 51, 2-3, 7-8 ; PL 54, 310-313, SC 74 bis (Nicene and post-Nicene Fathers rev.)

The glory of the Cross

The Lord displays his glory before chosen witnesses and invests that bodily
shape which he shared with others with such splendor rthat his face was
like the sun's in brightness and his garments white as snow. And in this
Transfiguration the foremost object was to remove the offense of the cross
from his disciples' hearts and to prevent their faith being disturbed by
the humiliation of his voluntary Passion by revealing to them the
excellence of his hidden dignity.But with no less foresight, the foundation
was laid of holy Church's hope that the whole body of Christ might realize
the character of the change which it would have to receive, since each
member is called to share one day in the glory seen shining beforehand in
its head...“This is my beloved Son...; listen to him... Listen to him who
opens the way to heaven, and by the punishment of the cross prepares for
you the steps of ascent to the Kingdom. Why tremble to be redeemed? Why
fear to be healed of your wounds, you who were wounded? Let that happen
that Christ wills and I will. Cast away all fleshly fear and arm yourselves
with the constancy that inspires faith. For it is unworthy for you to fear
in the Savior's Passion what, by his good gift, you will not have to fear
in your own death...”In these three apostles the whole Church has learned
everything that their eyes saw and their ears heard (cf. 1Jn 1,1). Let the
faith of all, then, be established according to the preaching of the holy
Gospel, and let no one be ashamed of Christ's cross, through which the
world has been redeemed.