2nd Week of Lent: Transformed by Hope

25/02/2026

News

“Transformed by Hope” is proposed as a space of listening and discernment on the Sunday Gospels that will accompany our Lenten journey.

The initiative, promoted by the UISG Women Theologians, is situated within the horizon opened by the Jubilee and seeks to prolong its grace, continuing to live our vocation as pilgrims of hope amid the challenges of the present time.

Each week, in the light of the Word of God, we will contemplate an aspect of the conversion to which we are called, allowing ourselves to be guided by the Spirit on the journey toward Easter. It is an invitation to allow evangelical hope to shape our way of believing, of living communion, and of participating in the mission of the Church.

During the second week, the commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (17:1–9) is prepared by Sr. Thérèse Raad.

“There in their presence he was transfigured…”

There are moments of Tabor in our consecrated life. Moments when everything becomes luminous. When the face of Christ shines for us like the sun. When our vocation regains its original clarity, beauty and freshness.

Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him. He takes them aside, up a high mountain. Nothing is improvised. The Transfiguration is not a spectacle: it is a grace given in intimacy.

As consecrated women, we know what it means to be “led up a high mountain by themselves.” Our times of prayer, our retreats, our chapters, our community silences... these are the mountains where the Lord leads us to show us who He truly is — and who we are in Him.

But the Transfiguration is not only consolation. It is revelation.

Jesus' face becomes bright as the sun. His clothes, white as light. It is not another person: it is Jesus himself. The one who will walk to Jerusalem. The one who will be misunderstood. The one who will be crucified.

The light does not remove the cross. It reveals its meaning.

How many times have we wished to “set up three tents”? To fix a moment of strength, to keep a community fervent, to preserve a mission that bore fruit, to hold on to a more stable era in our congregation...

“Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here!”

Yes, it is good to be in the light. But our vocation is not to dwell on the mountain. It is to listen.

The Father's voice resounds: "This is my Son, the Beloved… listen to him".

Listen to him... In our governmental decisions, in our apostolic choices, in our community tensions, in our declining numbers, in the new calls of the synodal Church. Listen to him.

Our fruitfulness does not come from our strategies, but from our ability to listen to the beloved Son.

“The disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear.”

The experience of God is unsettling. It brings us to our knees. It reminds us that we are not in control.

Then Jesus approached them. He touched them. ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’

This gesture always moves me deeply. Christ does not leave his disciples crushed by fear. He lifts them up.

How many sisters today need to be lifted up? Lifted up from fatigue, discouragement, loss of meaning, conflicts, restructuring, personal fragility...

What if our first mission were to become, for one another, this gesture of Christ?

“And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus.”

In the end, only He remains.

Neither Moses, nor Elijah, nor the securities of the past, nor institutional certainties.

Only Him.

Perhaps this is the heart of consecrated maturity: consenting to everything being simplified until only Jesus remains.

And then comes the descent from the mountain.

We do not remain in the light. We descend towards the plain, towards the sick, towards the crowds, towards incomprehension... towards the cross.

Our consecrated life is this ongoing movement:

Going up to contemplate.

Going down to serve.

Listening to discern.

Receiving light to walk through darkness.

In a fragmented world, in a Church undergoing transformation, in congregations called to reinvent themselves, the Transfiguration reminds us of this: Our future does not depend on our strength.

It depends on our ability to listen to the Beloved Son.

And when fear grips us, when uncertainty brings us to our knees, let us remember: He draws near, he touches us, and he says to us again today: ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’

May this Word become, for each of us, a light to continue on our journey.

01/03/2026

Cristina Fusini

Grazie

01/03/2026

Gabriela Andretta

Este comentario es una realidad que vivimos pero Cristo nos apremia Con su amor y su gracia. Muy linda e concreta gracias

01/03/2026

Yolanda

Thanks for sharing. Having Scripture commented as Religious is beautiful and needed.

01/03/2026

jeena michael

Thank you very much for the inspiring gospel reflection. I am really inspired and nourished by this practical and which is connected to our religious life.

01/03/2026

Martha Franco

Y al final sólo queda Él Él es nuestra fuerza para subir Él es nuestro ejemplo para servir Él nos motiva a escuchar Y nos a campaña al caminar. Sólo Él Muchas gracias

28/02/2026

judita marku

Grazie mille!

28/02/2026

Nuala Mulleady

I really appreciate those reflections and my hope is that they will continue during the year. Blessings on you all!

28/02/2026

Meera Plathottam

Thank you Sr. Therese. Your commentery touched me deeply. You offer deep insights very simply.

28/02/2026

Aurora Torres Hernández

Muchas gracias por ayudarnos a mantener viva la esperanza

28/02/2026

Ramona Ramírez

Gracias por tan hermosa reflexión

27/02/2026

Sr. Theresa

Thank you for your reflection 🙏 sisters

27/02/2026

Imelda layden

Thank you, to our Sisters who came together to share their joy and hope with us all In this 2nt Week of Lent , entitled 'Transformed by Hope' . I am thankful for having been born on this Feastday the 6th August and I feel having pondered over Reflection Above on this sunny morning in Ireland , I share my joy and hope with you all. .

27/02/2026

María Teresa Núñez Villanueva

Jesús en su vida ha mostrado su docilidad a la voluntad del Padre. Que en nuestras vidas también se de ese tiempo y espacio para que Dios nos transforme desde el interior y seamos luz en los momentos de cruz.

27/02/2026

SR Ascenza Tizzano

I am very grateful to have this opportunity to reflect on these Gospel reflections. Looking forward to receiving them each week.

27/02/2026

Cristina

Muchas gracias. Un abrazo fraterno

27/02/2026

Caprini ines

Meraviglioso è proprio la nostra realtà grazie

27/02/2026

Eva Luz Marquez

Saludos..muy hermosa la reflexion ..Esta muy acorde con lo que vivimos como Consagradas

26/02/2026

Rachelle Watier

Merci pour ce magnifique texte. Texte puissant!!!! Powerful text. Thank you so much

26/02/2026

Ana María Villares Alonso

Gracias porque m ayuda a confiar y fiarme de Él.

26/02/2026

Nellie Margate

beautiful reflection especially at this time of many challenges: aging & declining members of our community. We are called to keep on listening to Him and serve the people whom He entrusted to us...

26/02/2026

Blanca Olivia Olivar

Es un tema importante para este tiempo de cuaresma y que me ayudara a adentrarme en esa promesa hecha por Dios quien abre su corazon entra a morar.

26/02/2026

Lydia May Oo

Thank you so much, it is very meaningful reflecion for my life.

26/02/2026

Elisa Fancinelli

Interpretazione della Parola molto positiva. Grazie. Ascoltare la Parola con orecchi liberi da ogni cerume Guardare con gli occhi di Dio per vedere Amare come Dio ci ama, essere e vivere nell'amore che supera ogni notte umana trasformandola in energia di Dio.

26/02/2026

Sœur Jeanne Françoise / Sœurs franciscaines

Merci pour ce commentaire. C'est vraiment riche. Vraiment nous pouvons croire que Dieu nous précède toujours. Bonne route de carême sr Jeanne Françoise

26/02/2026

D. Viveka, rscj

Thank you for tthis inspiring reflection leading us to TRANSFIGURATION just like Moses, whose face shone when he descended from his meeting with God on the mountain. May we be worthy of this precious grace as we approach the Second Sunday of LENT, 2026

26/02/2026

Sr. Angela Bianchet PAJC

Grazie per la bella meditazione di Sr. Thérèse Raad.