Second Sunday of Lent – Sr. Patricia Gribbin, SNDdeN
March 1, 2026
Matthew 17: 1-9
Ben was a delightful child. His cheerful, outgoing personality endeared him to everyone. His sparkling eyes would light up a room as soon as he came in but, sadly, they did not enable Ben to see the world around him. He was blind due to neurological damage at birth. Ben also had cerebral palsy and learning difficulties.
One day, Ben was brought to my office as he had been swearing. He got himself comfortable in a chair and was smiling from ear to ear. – seemingly unaware that he was in trouble. Trying to restore a measure of seriousness, I said sternly “Ben, do you know why you are here?” Oblivious of the fact that I knew of his inappropriate behaviour, he replied in all innocence “Because you like me!”
“Yes, Ben, I DO like you” I said (trying all the time not to laugh) “and it’s because I do that we have to talk. . . “
I do not know how much my ‘lecture’ dented the fun he had enjoyed by trying out his newly acquired linguistic skills but I certainly learned that, despite the many challenges he had faced in his young life, Ben’s self-esteem was founded on the rock-solid knowledge that he was loved and cherished – warts and all! Ben was the beloved son of his parents. Thankfully, he knew it!
When Peter, James and John, saw Jesus transfigured and conversing with Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor, they were overcome with emotion but the voice of the Father interrupted Peter as he tried to voice his plans. They heard the Father say: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.”
As we reflect on the glory of Christ on Mount Tabor, we need to do so in the light of a deeper revelation that would later take place at his death. When Jesus was lifted up on Calvary, his face was torn and disfigured, his garments had been stripped from him and he hung there, abandoned and helpless, nailed to the wood of the Cross.
In John’s Gospel, the glory of Christ is the hour of his death on the cross. In obedience to the Father, he sacrificed his life for us and led us into the heart of God’s love. Christ’s glory is revealed in making known to us the wonder, the utter ‘madness’ of God’s love for each of us. In Christ, we, too, are the beloved sons and daughters of the Father. With Ben, we can be sure that he also likes us, warts and all.
Matthew 17: 1-9
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. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Meet Sister Patricia Gribbin, SNDdeN
