BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
  • Home / Página de inicio
    • Mass Intentions / Candles / Flowers
    • Parish Registration / Registro y Stewardship
    • Parish Property Use Request
    • Worship Aid / Bulletin
  • Capital Campaign
    • Parish Vision 2020-2024 >
      • 2017 - 2021
      • Parish Plan
      • Phase 1: Adoration Chapel
      • Phase 2a: Organ Restoration
      • Phase 2b: Rectory / Office Reno
      • Cathedral District Jax
      • About the Church >
        • Church Tours >
          • Exterior Tour
          • Interior Tour
          • Window Tour
  • Sacraments / Sacramentos
    • Faith Formation & Education / Formación de fe / educación
    • Mass & Adoration / Misa y adoración
    • Baptism / Sacramento del Bautismo
    • Reconciliation / Confession
    • First Reconciliation & First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
    • Marriage: Unique for a reason >
      • So You Want to Get Married?
  • About the Parish
    • Pastoral Leadership, Staff & Ministries
  • Contact

Second Sunday of Lent

3/4/2023

 
​And he was transfigured before them. 
His divinity, the glory of God, shining through from within him. Shining through his humanity, his humanity in its perfection, transparent. Transfiguration and transformation are of course related. Transfiguration is a specific form of transformation. We strive toward the holiness to which we are called, being transformed into the fullness of the new creation which we have become. Transformation which themselves lead to our transfiguration. As the interior transformation take place our exterior appearance is changed.  
 
For us, it works kind of like these stained-glass windows throughout this Church. For Jesus the shining glory of God is coming from within him, it is the light and glory of who he is in his divinity. These windows like us, are always unchanged panes of glass unless the light of the Sun shines through them. They are not transformed into prisms of light and storyboards of the faith. They remain just windows with potential. When the light more fully shines through, the windows are transformed and become glorious images of the love and mercy of God that has been outpoured on humanity from the moment of our creation when we were made in the image of God and likeness of Christ, made to shine with the glory of God. Made to be in our humanity so perfectly formed that this glory of God would shine through us and be like a storyboard of God's love and mercy for who look at us. Who look at us and hopefully see Christ, see the glory of God.  More and more throughout our journey home, like increasingly sunny days shining through these stained-glass windows.
 
But the more we are given over to sin, weakness, selfishness, and lack of sacrifice, the more we are given over to a culture of death; the harder it is for any light to shine through us. Just as in the dark of night these windows say nothing to the world. They are dark and their potential remains unrealized, their purpose unfulfilled. God wants us to be transformed in such a way that we will truly be transfigured wrought by the work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. 
 
This is what we're to reflect upon today as we enter into the second week of Lent. Searching our hearts. Allowing the Lord more space for the light to transform us and shine through us. To transform and transfigure us. That the world may know, there is a God. There is a God who loves them so much that his Son., Himself God, died for them. 
 
Food for thought.

Comments are closed.

    Audio

    Homilies - Year A '23
    Homilies - Year C '22

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    May 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Christmas
    Church
    Eucharist
    Eucharistic Celebrations
    Faith
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Hope & Love
    Human Formation
    Identity
    Lent
    Live In Christ
    Living Word Of God
    Men
    Mission
    Moral Theology
    Odds And Ends
    Prayer
    Rooted In Truth
    Sacraments
    Saints
    Sin And Redemption
    Spiritual Life
    Trinity

    About...

    Fr. Blair Gaynes has been in the Diocese since 2008.

    In 2011 I began work with Campus Ministry in the Jacksonville area and after being Ordained in 2012 I was appointed as chaplain/director of Campus Ministries in the Duval County and surrounding area.  

    During this time I was also serving as parochial vicar at Resurrection and Blessed Trinity Catholic Churches.

    In 2017 I was appointed Pastor of the Basilica Parish in Jacksonville, while continuing Campus Ministry. 

    I have 
    over 35 years experience in youth and young adult work in social services, education, parish and campus ministry fields.  As well as experience as a spiritual director, retreat master and keynote speaker.

    RSS Feed

OFFICE HOURS
9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday
​Office is closed on Fridays.


OFFICE:

Phone: (904) 359-0331
Fax: (904) 356-8133
Email: office@icjax.org


OFFICE ADDRESS
121 East Duval Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
NEW TO PARISH?

Become a member of our faith community,
Register Online 

Got Questions, no time to call, drop us a note by using this form...
​Click Here

GETTING MARRIED AT THE BASILICA
For general information, please contact our Parish Wedding Coordinator, Cathryn Morency, 
​at 904-359-0331 or fill out our online form.
  • Home / Página de inicio
    • Mass Intentions / Candles / Flowers
    • Parish Registration / Registro y Stewardship
    • Parish Property Use Request
    • Worship Aid / Bulletin
  • Capital Campaign
    • Parish Vision 2020-2024 >
      • 2017 - 2021
      • Parish Plan
      • Phase 1: Adoration Chapel
      • Phase 2a: Organ Restoration
      • Phase 2b: Rectory / Office Reno
      • Cathedral District Jax
      • About the Church >
        • Church Tours >
          • Exterior Tour
          • Interior Tour
          • Window Tour
  • Sacraments / Sacramentos
    • Faith Formation & Education / Formación de fe / educación
    • Mass & Adoration / Misa y adoración
    • Baptism / Sacramento del Bautismo
    • Reconciliation / Confession
    • First Reconciliation & First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
    • Marriage: Unique for a reason >
      • So You Want to Get Married?
  • About the Parish
    • Pastoral Leadership, Staff & Ministries
  • Contact