Well, good morning, good afternoon, or whatever time of the day all of you out in computer-streaming-land are viewing this pre-recorded Mass. All, however, a greeting to you, my fellow Lenten pilgrims. We began our Lenten journey ten days ago, hearing the words "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return," or perhaps you heard the other version, "Repent and believe in the gospel." 

     Remember. Repent. Believe. To help us stay focused on these three verbs—these three Lenten action words—we fast, pray, and give alms. With 25% of Lent in the bank, the barn, or the rear view mirror, are you closer to Jesus today than you were ten days ago?

     I heard a song on the radio the other day that was called "Less Like Me" and sung by Zach Williams. The song summarized for me what my Lenten journey is sometimes like and what the ultimate goal of Lent really should be for all of us, I felt. The lyrics go in part in like this:

    Shouldn't our Lenten journeys be a time to become a little more like Jesus and a little less like us? Shouldn't our Lenten journeys be a time to increase our knowledge of Jesus, our love for him, and our service to him?

    Let's get to know him a little bit better from today's Good News from Mark 9:2-10, the story of Jesus's transfiguration. This Gospel is always read at the second Sunday of Lent. What an all-star cast: the apostles--Peter, James, and John--are led up on a high mountain by Jesus. He was transfigured or changed before their very eyes. His clothes became dazzling white. Enter Moses, representing the Law from the Old Testament, then Elijah, representing the Prophets from the Old Testament, who began conversing with Jesus. Then, perhaps the understatement of this whole story, by Peter who says, "It is good that we are here." For sure. For sure, Peter.

    But the best is yet to come. Then a cloud, the Holy Spirit, casts a shadow over them and God the Father speaks these words: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

    God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Moses, representing the Old Testament Law. Elijah, representing the Old Testament Prophets, and three apostles. A sneak peek of heavenly glory and what awaits us at the end of our earthly pilgrimages if we but listen and follow Jesus.

    The last line of today's Gospel also indicates for us, however, the suffering messiahship that Jesus will ultimately suffer as he refers to him rising from the dead. Another sneak peek for us as to what lies ahead at the end of Lent: Jesus's passion, death, and resurrection. The most important events in human history lived out by the most important person: our God who became man, on mission from God the Father to save you and I. Listen to him.

    And listen as Abraham listened to God the Father in today's Old Testament reading from Genesis. An example of profound obedience, of total surrender. "Here I am, Lord." Abraham passed the test: “I know…how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son." The story of Abraham and Isaac prefigures the sacrifice that is Jesus Christ--the difference being that God the Father did sacrifice his beloved Son for us and our sins so that we may share ultimately in heavenly glory. Obey him. Listen and obey. Here I am, Lord.

    Thirty more days, my friends, of Lent, to become a little bit more like Jesus and a little less like us. Seven hundred and twenty hours of Lent to read, to get to know more about Jesus Christ. Several weeks ago in my last homily I dared you to read all of the Gospel of Mark which we read in this year of Mark. One hour to read through the whole Gospel. If you've done it, that's great. I hope you've been blessed by it. If not, there's still time. 720 hours left in Lent, one hour to read through Mark.

    For those who dared to read through all of Mark, my second challenge or dare to you is read the Gospel of St. John. For the next three weeks, the Gospel of St. John will be read at the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent: chapters 4, 9, and 11. You'll hear the stories over those next three Sundays of Jesus's visit with the woman at the well, the Samaritan woman. You'll hear Jesus's healing of the man born blind, and you'll hear Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead: all stories to prepare us for what is about to happen at his passion, death, and resurrection.

    43,200 minutes are left this Lent. The next challenge, my friends, is to take four minutes and listen to the song that I referenced earlier in my homily: “Less Like Me,” sung by Zach Williams on YouTube. Four minutes, my friends, of the 43,000+ minutes left in the season of Lent.

    And also this week, Sunday in particular, one final challenge or dare. I'd like you to take a moment this Sunday, February 28, to offer congratulations, best wishes, and prayers to Msgr. Enke, our priest, our pastor, and our shepherd on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Take the time to reach out in some way, like I say, and wish him a very happy birthday. Msgr., happy birthday to you.