While he went up the mountain to pray, his face changed in appearance...

THE TRANSFIGURATION

Last night a gala dinner occurred to benefit The Kino Border Initiative a half way house at the border which gives expelled refugees a breathing spell, food, temporary lodging, and spiritual support on their way back home.

In some small sense they are "transigured," their desperate eyes and tired bodies rejuvenated after being exploited by coyotes, arrested by the border patrol, incarcerated and expelled with nothing but the clothes on their back. My thanks to the 17 people I recruited for this worthy cause, each of whom contributed $250 per plate.

This week Pope Francis also appeared at the border on behalf of all refugees who seek a better life for their families.

On this Sunday when Jesus went up the mountain with his favored disciples, and was transfigured  before their eyes, the disciples received a preview of his glorified body which they would not see again until after his resurrection.

Lent for all of us can be a season of transfiguration when we see each other and our neighbors, and even our enemies "in a new light."

That is what transfiguration means: glimpsing the radiance that shines deeply in all hearts that seek the Face of God.

Another "transfiguration" took place last week when Pope Francis embraced the Patriarch of Russia in Cuba. The bishop of Rome and the bishop of Moscow had not been on speaking terms since the year 1054!

Back at the border, a young Jesuit Father Sean Carroll ministers to the bedragged refugees and sees in their faces, the face of Christ. With his degrees he could hold a prestigious faculty position at some university. It is to the credit of the Church that it sends some of its brightest stars to shine in dark places.

The same can be said for my own Archdiocese of Omaha which has sent some of its brightest and most talented to Sacred Heart Patish in the midst of the ghetto.

 In today's Second Reading, St. Paul reminds us of our own future glory:..."He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body..."

We are all destined for glory, for radiance...On our Lnten journey we have the opportunity to cast light into dark places. That is what Kino does at our border, showing there is no border as far as the light and love of Christ is concerned.

And so we pray:

This little light of mine,

Let it shine!

Let it shine!

Let it shine!

Casting light into dark places.

Transfigure me

into a light of faith,

a beam of hope,

a flame of love,

as I make my way through the Lenten desert

on the way to the Mount of Transfiguration.

Amen