Throughout the Lenten season, we’ll be posting reflections for holy days and Sundays. These reflections are taken from this year’s Lenten reflection booklet, Peace compels us, which includes all-new reflections written by Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. and Michael Martin, and from previous Lenten reflection booklets, like the one below, written by Prof. Michael Howard in 2023 for that year’s Lenten booklet, Witnesses on the way.
Click here to see all reflections as they are posted as well as links to other Lenten resources on our Lent 2026 webpage.
reflection for the SECOND sunday of lent, MARCH 1, 2026
by Prof. Michael Howard
originally published in 2023
Genesis 12:1-4a | 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 | Matthew 17:1-9
“Do not tell the vision to anyone…”
Matthew 17:9
Matthew’s gospel today describes an unimaginable scene. Three disciples – Peter, James, and John – were on a mountain with Jesus. I can only imagine how Jesus’ transfiguration affected the disciples. The narration becomes even more unthinkable when Moses and Elijah appear. By now I would have been in disbelief. But the unspeakable happened: “A bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’” (Matthew 17:5) I, too, would have prostrated myself just like the disciples: “When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid.” (Matthew 17:6)
Interestingly, this verse, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead” (Matthew 17:9), could today win the award for the “Come on now…” statement. I am sure the disciples responded to Jesus with, “Come on now!” I get it. They just saw Jesus transfigured and then the appearance of two legendary prophets. The disciples heard a voice from the cloud telling them to listen to Jesus. And then Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about the vision to anyone. Come on now. It is impossible to keep this vision a secret.
I understand that sometimes you must keep the vision of the Lord’s work a secret. Servant of God Julia Greeley kept her ministry a secret. As a formerly enslaved person who accepted the Catholic faith, Sr. Greeley was known to gather unwanted or hand-me-down clothes from wealthy families. She then distributed them in her wagon to other families at night. Sr. Greeley told no one about her ministry. She lived this passage from Matthew’s gospel, “When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:3)
Reflection: What work will you do this week for the Lord secretly?
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Prof. Michael Howard is the founder of Eat the Scroll Ministry. He has extensive experience teaching online courses and certificate programs for universities and the Archdiocese of Washington. Through Eat the Scroll Ministry he conducts retreats, Bible Study programs, and revivals. He and his wife, Pax Christi USA Executive Director Charlene Howard, were the co-authors of the Pax Christi USA 2023 Lenten reflection booklet, Witnesses on the Way.