On the Second Sunday of Lent we consider the way we are following the Lord. And there are many questions that we could ask ourselves today in our time of prayer. Do we allow ourselves to be exposed to the spiritual? Do we pray, really pray? Do we allow the spiritual to become real in our lives? Are we allowing God’s plan to take effect in our world? Are we living as citizens of heaven, or is our glory the mere external following of our religion? If someone were to ask any of us, “What exactly is a Catholic?” In what terms would we form our answer? If we were to answer the question in terms of religious practices, such as “a Catholic is a person who goes to Church on Sundays, receives the sacraments, says the Rosary, etc.,” we would be given far too much importance to what we do and not enough importance to what God is doing. However, if we were to answer the question, “What is a Catholic?” in terms of what God does, if we were to say, “A Catholic is someone united to God in such a way that others experience the Mystery of God working in him,” then it is God and his works that are the essence of lives. Few people are drawn to Catholicism because they want to do the things that Catholics do. People are drawn to Catholicism because they want to experience God as Catholics experience Him. Spiritually alive, living with God, united in the Holy Spirit, we can become the Divine Magnet for the world. We began today’s Gospel with Jesus at prayer, in union with the Father, entering into the mystery of his Being. He is transfigured. The disciples call out, “It is good for us to be here.” Yes it is! It is good for all of us to be here in the presence of the Lord. We also are called into the mystery of our being, the depth of whom we are where physical, and spiritual unite. We are called into our depth, into union with the Holy Spirit so others might say, “It is good for us to be here.” So, may the Lord transform us. Transfigure us. Me he help us so that the spiritual can be real in our lives. He knocks on the door of our hearts. May we let him in and may he help us to fight for the reign of the spiritual, the mystical. Help us to be vehicles of his presence! • AE

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Fr. Agustin Schedule for the Second Sunday of Lent

Sunday, February 13, 2022

7.30 a.m. English Mass @ St. Dominic Catholic Church

10.00 a.m. English Mass @ St. Dominic Church

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II Domingo de Cuaresma (Ciclo C)

Uno de los mayores riesgos de los creyentes es ir llenando la palabra “Dios” de cualquier contenido y seguir pensando todavía que uno cree e invoca al Dios verdadero. Más aún. Con bastante frecuencia, nuestra imagen deformada de Dios puede ser, de manera inconsciente, el mayor obstáculo para descubrir el verdadero rostro de Dios. Estamos llenos, qué duda cabe, de caricaturas de Dios. El “Dios intimista” que nos compensa de nuestras frustraciones, nos consuela en nuestras tribulaciones y nos tranquiliza en la ansiedad, pero no nos estimula a vivir la fraternidad y la solidaridad con el necesitado. El “Dios de nuestros intereses” puesto al servicio de cruzadas y estrategias políticas diferentes, utilizado para “rearmes religiosos” interesados y apoyo de ideologías de un signo y otro. El “Dios popular” con quien se negocian favores temporales y eternos a base de promesas, ritos y oraciones. El “Dios riguroso” y terrible, reflejo de una sociedad autoritaria, en quien es difícil confiar o el “Dios permisivo” y complaciente de los nuevos tiempos, que no exige ni inquieta porque le hacemos decir sólo lo que queremos oír de Él. El “Dios encerrado” en una parcela privada de nuestra vida, que no tiene apenas influencia alguna en esferas importantes de nuestra vida como los negocios, la profesión, la actividad pública o el comportamiento afectivo. El “Dios irrelevante” que no tiene apenas impacto alguno en la vida real de cada día y cuya desaparición no cambiaría de manera notable la existencia de quienes se dicen creyentes. La gran pregunta es ¿Dónde podríamos purificar nuestras imágenes deformadas de Dios y descubrir el verdadero rostro de Dios? El verdadero camino -en realidad el único- es Jesucristo. Los apóstoles escucharon esa órden: “Éste es mi Hijo, mi escogido; escúchenlo”. Para acoger al verdadero Dios es necesario seguir a Jesús, escuchar su mensaje, vivir su experiencia, dejarse animar por su Espíritu. Si: todo éso. Los cristianos habríamos de purificar nuestra fe de tantas adherencias y deformaciones, volviendo de nuevo a Jesucristo, el Señor ¿Cuándo? ¡La Cuaresma es un tiempo estupendo para hacerlo! • AE

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