The Second Sunday of Lent

March 16, 2025

GOSPEL MEDITATION

St. Thomas Aquinas said that friends share three things: time, possessions and secrets. For example, how do I know if you’re my friend? Well, let’s say we’ve been to Mex-ico together, you’ve tried my shaky attempts at pasta car-bonara, and you know what ridiculous costume I wore in a music video I filmed in my early twenties. We, dear reader, are definitely friends. We’ve shared time, possessions and secrets.

How does friendship with Jesus develop? The same way. Jesus lives and eats with his disciples. Then he takes Pe-ter, James and John to Mount Tabor and there reveals to them his deepest secret: his glorious, divine Sonship. The majesty of God shines from within his humanity in a way that goes beyond description. God the Father confirms this “secret,” saying, “This is my chosen Son, listen to him” (Luke 9:35). It’s all so precious that “they fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone.” Do we take time to be alone with Christ, to allow him to mystically share this “secret” with us as his dear friends?

Lenten challenge: This week, identify one time when you experienced an awareness of some specific aspect of Jesus — perhaps on a retreat, at Mass, in prayer or in an act of service. Spend ten minutes consciously re-living that experi-ence in your heart. If you can’t recall one, set aside at least two hours this Lent as a mini retreat, either alone in nature or in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Focus on him and ask him to share the secrets of his heart with you. He will. Then, as his friend, share the secrets in your heart
- Father John Muir

PRO-LIFE CORNER

“To celebrate the Gospel of life means to celebrate the God of life, the God who gives life...In every child which is born and in every person who lives or dies we see the image of God’s glory. We cele-brate this glory in every human being, a sign of the living God, an icon of Jesus Christ.”

FAMILY LENTEN PROJECT CARE PACKAGES FOR COUCH SURFING (HOMELESS) CHILDREN

Saint Mary’s and Sacred Heart Churches are participating in a FAMILY LENTEN PROJECT for Homeless Children in the Altoona Area School District. These children range in age from Kinder-garten to 12th grade and are identified as having no permanent address (couch surfing – going from location to location). Be-low are items that we will be collecting to put into packages for these children. Please place your donations in the Blessed Mother Room at St. Mary’s or at the Main Entrance at Sacred Heart. This project will begin Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025 to Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Hygiene Items: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Bar Soap, Wash-cloth, Deodorant, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Body Lotion, Mouthwash, Feminine Hygiene Products,
Personal Items: Socks, Underwear, T-Shirts/Hoodies (not white), Hair Accessories (comb, brush, barrettes, hair clips, headbands, etc.)

We will accept monetary donations by envelope marked “Family Lenten Project” dropped in the collection basket at either church.

EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP

In last week’s Gospel, we followed Jesus into the desert where He fasted and prayed. This week, He leads us up a mountain to witness His Transfiguration. Why these experi-ences? Because He is preparing us to go with Him in a few short weeks to a hilltop, Golgotha, where He will lay down His life for our sake – and finally He will take us to an empty cave where He triumphed over sin and death once and for all.

Jesus perfectly understands our humanity. He knows we need to experience times of self-denial and testing, in order to arrive at mountain-top moments when we see and feel His glorious presence in our lives. The reason for all of our fasting and prayer and almsgiving during lent is to be reawakened to all God has done for humanity and to all that He has done for each of us personally. While there is nothing sinful in complacency in our daily routine, as Christian stewards we are called to so much more!

We need to train ourselves, or allow Jesus to train us, to say ‘Yes’ to His will and to offer our lives back to Him. In doing so, we too become ‘transfigured.’ This is what it means to live fully awake; this is a stewardship way of life and it is glorious indeed.
- Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

A Family Perspective

Transfiguration is a common occurrence in families. When we commit to another, such as a spouse in marriage or a child in parenting, we are not committing to them only as they are today, but to the person they are becoming.
- Bud Ozar

Prayer Requests

Kathy Ansman, Mark Blackie, Rod Baronner, Dan Bauer, Dave Bauer, Damian Branas, Vince Bumann, Jack Chilcote, Harry Chirdon, Karen Claar, Brandon Conaway, Shirley Conlon, Denise Conrad, James Conrad, Kathy Corl, William Costlow, Bob Decker, Colette DiMemmo, Margaret Dodson, Tim Dodson, Joan Donnelly, Matthew Dorman, Nate Dorman, Amelia Doughurty, Lois Duncan, Thomas Duncan, Sam Dunio, Paul Dunmire, Ashley Eagen, Corinda Ermin, Herman Frederick, Pat Harpster, Leighton Hess, Dolly Holzer, Lucy Horton, Raymond Kargo, Carol Keagy, Kenny Anthony Keagy, Russell Keith John Kleine, Sue Koehle, Ruth Lamca, Cyndi Lansberry, John Leshene, Beth Lloyd, Charles McGrain, Shirley McIntyre, Mason Wayne McManus, Paul Angelo Morelli, Bev Mueller, Bonnie Neal, Jessica Neff, Lee Neff, Kevin O'Rourke, Mark Pacifico, Sarah Rihnovich, Gary Rupert Jr, Nancy Servello, Laura Snyder, Alex Walter, Margo Wascherl, Alan Watson, Joan Weston, Hank Williams, Renee Williams, Mikayla Yanchik.

If you would like to add a sick or hospitalized person to our prayer list or readd a person, please call the rectory office, at 943-8553. Parishioners of Saint Mary are encouraged and welcome to participate. Remember, you must have the permission of the ill person/family to publish their name.

Sacred Heart Church