Second Sunday of Lent
The Gospel reading for this Sunday of Lent is Saint Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration. It took the Apostles a long time to understand Jesus and the full purpose of his ministry. Along the way there were significant moments when their friendship was deepened by discovering more about him. Their discipleship was deepened when he was transfigured on the mountain and they saw His divinity revealed. They would get to know and love Him even more when after this as they journeyed to Jerusalem and it became more clear that he would be persecuted and would suffer and die in Jerusalem, even though they did not understand what this would mean at the time. They would treasure the moments of Jesus’ life even more during the Last Supper, His Agony in Gethsemane, his Passion, Death and Resurrection. The entire time the Apostles were with Jesus they were getting to know him more deeply and realising what following him as disciples meant. It is the same for us. As Peter, James and John saw Jesus’ divinity revealed their attitudes were transformed so we are encouraged to accept that Lent is for us an opportunity to allow the Lord to transform us and our attitudes so that we can love him more deeply.
Last Friday was Family Fast day with their theme for this year challenging us all to take part in their campaign to help families grow enough to eat. The principle methods that they are engaged in are setting up water schemes in drought areas and training people in new farming methods and choices of crops. The campaign is entitled ‘Small acts of love make big things happen’. There are envelopes for contributions at Mass this Sunday or you may wish to take part in the Big Lenten Walk in support of the work of Cafod.
This Sunday the afternoon service at 3pm there will be a service of Lenten readings and excerpts from Handels messiah. Next Sunday there will be a performance of ‘The Seven Last Words of Christ’ by Cesar Franck.
Sometime during the night of Thursday through to Friday morning the tap on the water heater in the Art Studio burst flooding parts of the area. Unfortunately more significant damage was caused to the entrance area of the Crypt Chapel which is located directly below this area. Even after it was discovered and the supply switched off the water was still coming through the ceiling above the Chapel for the next few hours. This has meant that the Friday Mass had to be transferred to the Cathedral. Hopefully, unless the electrics are declared unsafe we will go ahead with the Sunday Morning Mass in the Crypt, however we may have to cordon off an area at the back of the chapel. This has been the worst case of a number of building related incidents since the beginning of January all that seemed to occur on Fridays. The maintenance staffs new motto is not so much ‘Thank God it’s Friday’ instead it is now ‘Oh no it’s Friday!’
There will be filming in the Cathedral on Tuesday for a future architectural programme hosted by Kevin McCloud. Watch this space for more details.
Monsignor Anthony O’Brien
CATHEDRAL DEAN