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Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne
March 1, 2026
On this page you will find:
The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut
2nd Sunday of Lent
“This is my beloved Son,
in whom I find my joy:
Listen to him!
Matthew 17:5b
Readings from the Mass
Mass leaflet
Universal Prayer
Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.
Meditation by Pope Francis
The Gospel for this second Sunday of Lent ( cf. Matthew 17:1-9 presents the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He takes Peter, James, and John with him and ascends a high mountain, a symbol of closeness to God, to open them to a deeper understanding of the mystery of his person, who will suffer, die, and then rise again. Indeed, Jesus had begun to speak to them about the suffering, death, and resurrection that awaited him, but they could not accept this prospect. Therefore, having reached the mountaintop, Jesus is in prayer and is transfigured before the three disciples: “His face,” says the Gospel, “shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light” (v. 2).
Through the wondrous event of the Transfiguration, the three disciples are called to recognize in Jesus the Son of God, resplendent in glory. They thus grow in their understanding of their Master, realizing that his human form does not fully express his reality; the otherworldly and divine dimension of Jesus is revealed to them. And from on high a voice resounds, saying, “This is my beloved Son… Listen to him” (v. 5). It is the heavenly Father who confirms the “investiture”—let us call it that—of Jesus, which took place on the day of his baptism in the Jordan, and who invites the disciples to listen to him and follow him.
It must be emphasized that, from among the group of Twelve, Jesus chose to take Peter, James, and John with him up the mountain. He reserved for them the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration. But why did he choose these three? Because they were holier? No. Peter would deny him in the hour of trial; and the two brothers, James and John, would ask for the highest positions in his kingdom (cf. Mt 20:20-23). However, Jesus did not choose according to our criteria, but according to his plan of love. Jesus' love is immeasurable: it is love, and he chooses according to this plan of love. It is a free, unconditional choice, a free initiative, a divine friendship that asks nothing in return. And just as he called these three disciples, today he also calls others to be near him, so that they may bear witness. Being witnesses of Jesus is a gift we did not earn: we feel inadequate, but we cannot back down with the excuse of our inability.
We did not go up Mount Tabor; we did not see with our own eyes the face of Jesus shining like the sun. However, the Word of salvation has been entrusted to us as well, faith has been given to us, and we have experienced, in various ways, the joy of encountering Jesus. To us too, Jesus says: “Rise, and do not be afraid” (Mt 17:7). In this world, marked by selfishness and greed, the light of God is veiled by the concerns of daily life. We often say: I don't have time to pray, I'm not able to serve in the parish, to respond to the requests of others… But we must not forget that the baptism we received makes us witnesses, not through our abilities, but through the gift of the Spirit.
In this propitious time of Lent, may the Virgin Mary obtain for us this docility to the Spirit, which is indispensable to set us resolutely on the path of conversion.
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POPE FRANCIS
ANGELUS
Saint Peter's Square
(Library of the Apostolic Palace)
Sunday, March 8, 2020
[ Multimedia ]
Homily
Draw from the source
On this second Sunday of Lent, the Church recommends less an effort of fasting than an effort of walking. When we read the Bible, we find many people setting out on a journey. But each time, it is toward a very specific goal. This is what happened to Abraham (first reading): he had to leave his country, his family, and his father's house; he set out for the land God had destined for him; this is an extraordinary challenge for us who are so often attached to our securities, our comfort, our certainties. Abraham is presented to us as the model of believers who place all their trust in God and who accept to answer his call.
The Apostle Paul also traveled extensively. He journeyed through various countries to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentile world. His primary concern was that the Good News be known to all. Today, he addresses Timothy, who is facing his persecutors. He encourages him to persevere despite suffering and persecution. Evil and death will not have the final word. So yes, let us not be afraid to follow Christ, who wants to share his victory with us.
The Gospel we have just heard takes us back to a crucial moment in Jesus' life; he is on his way to Jerusalem; he has just announced to his disciples that he will be arrested there, condemned, and put to death on a cross. For them, this is unbearable. The event recounted to us today will help them adjust to God's plan: it is Jesus who leads three of them "up a high mountain by themselves." In the world of the Bible, the mountain represents God's closeness and the encounter with him; it is a place of prayer. There, one is truly in the presence of the Lord.
It is on this mountain that the Transfiguration of Jesus took place. It is like a shining beacon showing us the destination of our human and Christian life. By revealing to his disciples the beauty of his divinity, he unveils the purpose of his saving journey. This mysterious light is a window onto the resurrection and life with the Father. We are not like people lost in the desert. We have a guide, Jesus himself. He is the “way, the truth, and the life”; it is through him and with him that we go to the Father.
Peter is dazzled by this extraordinary vision. He longs to prolong this moment of bliss and dwell in it. But the Father's voice brings him back to reality: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This voice explains the great light that envelops Jesus: today they see his transfigured face; later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, they will see him disfigured. The Messiah we must listen to is a crucified Messiah, a Messiah who wants to share his victory over death and sin with us.
This Gospel passage about the Transfiguration describes what happens every Sunday at Mass: after six days of work, Jesus leads us to a “high place.” This is important for us: we all need to be lifted up; it's not about fleeing the world or escaping. If Christ calls us to him, it's to invite us to contemplate “the things of heaven.” This weekly encounter with him is an event we absolutely must not miss.
Then comes the return to the less glamorous everyday. We will have all eternity to contemplate the splendor of God. The Lord sends us back to this world where divine glory is not always dazzling. He invites us to work to make this world a better place. Pope Francis often speaks to us of the “peripheries,” all those who suffer because of illness, injustice, and material and spiritual poverty. It is into this world as it is that we are sent to bear witness to the hope that sustains us.
Throughout this Lent, we are all called to leave our comfortable lives and climb the mountain to meet the Lord. Let us remember that his words are those of “eternal life.” We are drawn by the hope of the final transfiguration. So, like Abraham, Paul, and so many others, let us set out to follow the Lord. May he always be with us, and we always with him, so that our whole lives may bear witness to the love he has for us.
Sources: Feu Nouveau magazines, Sunday fact sheets, Francis according to Saint Matthew, Let's Celebrate Sunday, My Companion Towards Easter (Magnificat), Personal files
Understanding the readings
with Marie-Noëlle THABUT
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