Visitation of Our Lady

This weekend is Palm Sunday. It is a very special day that many look forward to each year. For Palm Sunday Mass we get to literally enact what we read about in the Gospel. As the people, including children greeted Jesus with palms, we, too, use palms to help us spiritually enter into the celebration.

By now most of y’all have probably noticed a difference in the music at Mass since Lent began. I’m not talking about the Gloria or Alleluia not being sung. I am referring to the increase in silence in the Liturgy. The Church calls for more solemn music to be played during Lent, but also more silence. One of the things the Church asks us to do is to only play instruments to support singing. In other words, no instrumental music is allowed during Lent. The Church wants silence during Lent.

This weekend we hear the Parable of the Two Sons, or the Parable of the Prodigal Son as it is more widely known as. This parable is so rich and so deep, that it could be talked about for a week long retreat. Here are two important things about this parable. The first is that the father in the story runs to his lost son when he sees him. The father does not wait for the son to reach him, or act like he doesn’t see him. When the father sees his son, he immediately runs to him out of love for his son.

In the first reading we hear about Moses and the burning bush. It is probably one of the more fascinating episodes in the Old Testament. Moses sees a strange sight while tending his father-in-law’s flock on Mt. Horeb, which is known more by its other name, Mt. Sinai. That’s right, Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush happened on the very same mountain that the 10 Commandments were given. He sees a bush on fire, but not burning. As he comes closer to examine it he realizes that this is a manifestation of God. The author tells us that this was an angel. Angels, who are perpetually in the presence of God, bring His presence wherever they are sent. To be in the presence of an angel is to be in the presence of God. This is why Moses was on holy ground, and why he took off his sandals.

We always read the account of the Transfiguration on the Second Sunday of Lent. At first glance this might seem counter intuitive to the spirit of Lent. Penance and fasting come to the fore during Lent, so what does Jesus’ transfiguration have to do with this?