On this Second Sunday of Lent, the Church places before us three readings that shine with one common theme: transformation. Not surface change. Not cosmetic improvement. But deep, covenantal, life-altering transformation — the kind that only God can bring about.

Brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we begin our Lenten journey on this First Sunday of Lent, Year A, the Church places before us two distinct places and two very different responses to temptation...

Tonight, ashes are placed on our foreheads with ancient words:
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Or: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Ashes tell the truth. They remind us that we are fragile. But they also remind us that we are claimed by God

My brothers and sisters, today’s readings confront us with something both empowering and uncomfortable: we are responsible for our choices. This is not easily accepted as it is common on our time to blame our faults and problems on parents, children, spouses, employers, government, immigrants and everything imaginable under the sun.

Today's Word pushes us very concretely to let our light shine by allowing our faith to become visible in what we do, especially for the sake of the poor, the suffering, and the people right in front of us.