In the Matthean account of the Transfiguration, Jesus illustrates His Divinity and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets proclaiming a call to listen and follow; He prepares us for suffering, and He invites us to be transformed—into Christ’s own disciples.

Lent provides us all with the opportunity to travel with Jesus in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Today, Matthew (4:1-11) presents us with a profound moment in Jesus’ life: His forty days of fasting in the desert and His confrontation with temptation by Satan. Jesus encounters every temptation by Satan with the Word of God: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the month God.” His unwavering faith and obedience to God is meant to serve as a model for our lives, and Lent provides a good opportunity to begin that journey.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church (Rome), the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also calledto practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season.

Sirach (15:15-20), which is our first reading today is brief yet powerfully clear and to the point: “If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before you are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses will be given him.” We hear in this the great gift of free will, which stems from God’s Divine Love, for nothing forced is love; and all that God asks from us is love

Matthew’s Gospel calls us to consider our mission and identity as Christ’s disciples. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” What does He mean that we are to be the salt and light of the world? What spiritual implications are embedded in these phrases? What are their meanings?

I am very happy to introduce and welcome Maria Galeota as St. Catherine of Siena’s new director of youth ministry. Maria comes to us with lots of experience of working with youth—as a teacher in both the Catholic and public school systems, and most recently as an ESL professional in Windsor.

NEW ​TRAINING DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED our parish will host opportunities to train both “Eucharist Ministers” and lectors here at St. Catherine of Siena. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will be trained from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., and lectors will be trained from 11 a.m. until 12 noon. I am extending this opportunity to those who feel a calling to the these lay roles in the Church.