“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but have eternal life” is a statement that has captured the attention of countless Christians and given them hope, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

This Sunday’s Gospel story of Jesus and the money-changers in the Temple, constitutes an invitation to each of us to pause and reflect on what it is that makes us angry enough to want to change ourselves, our Church and the injustices that pertain in that part of the world to which we belong, writes Br Julian McDonald CFC.

The Transfiguration of Jesus was the moment of revelation to Peter, James and John of the divine dwelling deep within Jesus. It was a revelation of the goodness and love of God alive in him and reaching out to the world, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

So now, (in Lent) we, the people of God commit ourselves to the challenge of reflecting on how authentically or otherwise we are living as self-proclaimed disciples of Jesus, of opening our eyes to whatever remains when we let go of many of the comforts to which we have become wedded. We commit ourselves as a Christian community to spending forty days of living more by the grace of God than by what we can provide for ourselves, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald..

This Sunday’s gospel reading challenges each of us to reflect on the extent to which our lives reflect the advent of the kingdom of God, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. Is there anything in my words and actions that excludes or alienates anyone? Who are the “lepers” in my life, those whom I deliberately avoid because they discomfort me, disagree with me or don’t hesitate to challenge me?