Second Sundayof Lent, 28 February 2010

On Saturday this weekend we celebrated the Feast of St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, a Passionist student born in Assisi, Italy, in 1838. He died of tuberculosis just before his 24 th birthday. He died before becoming a priest and is venerated as a patron of youth. We as a Passionist community are blessed to have such a model of holiness to inspire us on our journey and especially at times of illness.

Gabriel followed Jesus Crucified as faithfully as he could in his short life. He also had a great devotion for Mary as the Mother of Sorrows. In all he did, Gabriel simply kept close to Jesus and he was changed by this closeness. In many ways, he resembles the great people mentioned in the Scriptures at today’s Mass. He had very little time, very little opportunity outside of being in the monastery and yet, he became a saint that is loved and revered.

Gabriel was a lot like Abraham (literally, the father of a multitude). How was an old man with an ageing wife going to have descendants? Not only that, these descendants will be as numerous at the stars in the sky! Listen to what Abraham did – he put his faith in the Lord. In the 1 st Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass, we pray that God accept our offering as he did Abraham’s our father in faith. Gabriel believed that God would bring good out his illness and death and He did. So did Abraham believe that what appeared almost impossible would happen? Do I believe or deep down am I more a doubter?

Paul took part in the murder of Stephen and went on to persecute the followers of Jesus. But when he was converted, nothing would stop him winning followers for Christ. Paul’s faith in God was rock solid. He was tireless as a missionary, but he never forgot where it was all leading him and us. For us, our homeland is in Heaven…and the Lord Jesus Christ will transfigure these wretched bodies into copies of his own glorious body. Paul looked the least likely missionary for Jesus given his background, but Jesus called him and Paul never looked back. He looked forward to his true home in Heaven. Gabriel in his monastery daily prayed for the gift to enter Heaven to meet the Crucified and Risen Jesus and the Sorrowful Mother. Am I ready to let God change me into his missionary, irrespective of what has happened in my past?

Last week we were in the wilderness with Jesus and the devil tempted Him. Today we are with Jesus on the mountain. He has gone there to pray to His Father. The three, Peter, John and James are with Him. Something amazing happens to Jesus as He prayed. His face was changed and his very clothes became brilliant as lightening. That is not all. Moses and Elijah are talking with Jesus. What were they talking about? They were discussing the Passion to be accomplished in Jerusalem.

What did Peter, John and James make out of all of this? They were tired and almost asleep, but kept awake. Peter got an idea. He was going to build a shrine – with a place for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. What does the Gospel say about this idea? He did not know what he was saying! That is very blunt as a statement. But it has to be because you cannot put Jesus into a shrine. You cannot contain Him. What is called for instead comes in the voice of God from Heaven: This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to Him. To listen to Jesus is to believe in Him. Gabriel in his monastery, sick though he was, spent his days listening to Jesus. When he could not sleep, he spent nights listening to Him. Do I listen to Jesus?

It takes faith to make progress in our loving Jesus. We look on His glorious appearance in the Transfiguration today. On Good Friday we will see Jesus carrying a Cross, crowned with thorns, spat upon and scourged. This same Jesus gives us a word of encouragement by letting us glimpse His glory in case our faith would fail. In moments of trial, we can ask St Gabriel to intercede for us in Heaven.

Aidan Troy, C.P. [Aodhán ó Troighthigh, C.P.]