This is my Son, the Beloved. In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about his Father in heaven, and at key moments, the voice of the Father speaking about the Son is heard. This happens first at Jesus’ baptism, and the affirmation of the Father helps to launch Jesus on his mission. In today’s reading, at Jesus’ Transfiguration, the voice from of the Father speaks from the cloud, “This is my Son, the Beloved.” The experience is surely an encouragement for Peter, James and John, who soon were to see Jesus crucified; and it is surely another affirmation that will help Jesus to remain in a rock-solid love-relationship with his Father, through the worst of human ordeals. In Lent, there can be a danger for us that we somehow think that through our efforts of prayer, fasting, penance and almsgiving, we are going to get rewarded or be loved more by God. But God’s love for us in unconditional and we cannot earn it. It is more the case that our Lenten devotions will help us to hear the loving voice of God through the cloud. It is very hard for us to be loving disciples of the Lord, offering our lives in service to those around us, if we have not first experienced the love that God has for us. Lent is a good time to pray for a new experience of the Father’s love. God Bless, Fr Kevin