Second Lent

Matthew 17: 1 – 3

Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realised that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

This week we hear the account of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain and is revealed in glory. For a brief moment, they see beyond the ordinary and glimpse who he truly is.

That moment from ordinary to extraordinary speaks powerfully to life in Catholic schools.

Our days are often shaped by timetables, targets and to do lists. Yet the Transfiguration reminds us that beneath the everyday, something holy is already present. Jesus does not become someone new on the mountain. His true identity is simply revealed.

The same is true of the young people we teach. Each student already carries God given dignity and potential. Our role is not just to deliver curriculum but to help reveal what is already there. When a student grows in confidence, chooses kindness or discovers a love of learning, we witness small moments of transfiguration in our classrooms.

The disciples could not stay on the mountain. They had to walk back down. So do we. After moments of inspiration in prayer or liturgy, we return to the reality of school life. Lent invites us to do so with clearer vision.

This week asks us to look again at their students, their colleagues and themselves, and to see not just the ordinary, but the light of Christ quietly shining within it.