Dear friends,
Looking back to my first message of 2026, our world was already in turmoil. At the time, I noted that, ‘Wishing each other a happy and peaceful new year has never been more relevant in recent history.’
We are now into the season of Lent and facing a world sadly still on fire. As headlines reach us, detailing the conflicts and disasters which have claimed the lives of so many of our sisters and brothers across the world, and the homes, hopes and basic rights of so many more, where can we turn for help? How can we prevent ourselves from giving into the temptation of despair?
The Holy Father points us to our answer. On the Second Sunday of Lent, reflecting on the transfiguration, Pope Leo reminded us that in the darkness of violence and pain, Christ brings the light of hope:
‘The Transfiguration foreshadows the light of Easter: an event of death and resurrection, of darkness and new light that Christ radiates on all bodies scourged by violence, crucified by pain, or abandoned in misery. Indeed, while evil reduces our flesh to a commodity or an anonymous mass, this same flesh shines with the glory of God.’
Pope Leo’s words make clear that our hope is neither theoretical nor distant. Jesus, through his suffering, death and resurrection has shown us that evil and death do not have the last word. Salvation is close at hand:
‘The Redeemer thus transfigures the wounds of history, enlightening our minds and hearts: his revelation is a gift of salvation! Does this captivate us? Do we see the true face of God with a gaze of wonder and love?’
As we journey through Lent, let us hold peace in our hearts and our homes, allowing the true and lasting promise of salvation to transfigure our hearts and our lives.
Let us join with the Holy Father in praying unceasingly for peace and commend to Christ all our sisters and brothers who are living through conflict or the threat of war.
In this month’s Mission Possible…
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