In today’s liturgy we behold Jesus’ self-gift in the washing of the feet ritual and in the Eucharist where Jesus offers his body and his blood for the world. Self-giving is an act of agape: unconditional love, the highest form, the deepest form of love…This is the diptych of today’s two rituals and of what we will be participating in.

Listen to the Chapter Talk here:

The gospel of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, is the last of the ‘signs’ in St. John’s gospel where Jesus reveals in his person the glory of God.  The context for ‘believing’ in John’s gospel involves an encounter, an encounter with Christ.

Conversion to a deepened faith: the eye of the heart continually needs this transformation…transformation into a living and growing faith. 

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 31:1-12 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer
Mass: Gn 12:1-4a; Resp Ps 33; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-

Someone recently told me that he prayed for me. His prayer is that I do whatever the Lord asks of me as I live out my vocation in this particular place. Recalling that heart-warming gesture, today's transfigured Word encourages me, encourages us all, in this way: Rise, and do not be afraid (Mt 17:7).

The theme of Pope Francis’ message for Lent this year is ‘conversion’.  Right at the beginning of his ‘Lenten Message’ he states that the ‘paschal mystery is the basis of conversion.’  Indeed, the backdrop of our Lenten journey is the death and resurrection of Jesus.  This event states that ‘now is the time of grace, now is the day of our salvation’. This grace, available now, happens each time we turn from what is not life, and turn towards God….Conversion is a turning from and turning toward: this inner dynamic is a dying or a letting go for life, for God’s love to heal and transform.  An authentic conversion is an “inward transformation” (p.233).