Illustration: Transfiguration by Alexandr Ivanov, 1824
Pope Leo’s Homily for Second Sunday of Lent
Parish of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Quarticciolo (Rome)
1 March 2026
First Reading (Genesis 12:1-4)
The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s house to the land I will show you.
And I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.
Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17.1-9
Jesus took Peter & James & his brother John with him and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus. ‘Lord. ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. He said: ‘Stand up, ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised up their eyes they saw only Jesus. As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’
Pope Leo’s Homily
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am pleased to be here with you to listen to the Word of God alongside entire parish community.
This we reflect on Abraham’s journey (First Reading) and the Transfiguration of Jesus (Gospel).
Like Abraham, we can all recognize ourselves as being on a journey.
Life is a journey that requires trust and entrustment to the Word of God, which calls us and sometimes asks us to leave everything behind.
One can then be tempted to flee the uncertainty that causes distress, when it is precisely within this uncertainty that one can appreciate the promise of unexpected greatness.
Every day, we take measurements of everything and struggle to have everything under control because that’s how the world thinks.
However, by doing so, we miss the chance to find the true treasure, the precious pearl that the Gospel tells us God has hidden in our field. (Matthew 13:44 –The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field).
Abraham’s journey begins with a loss: the land and the house that hold the memories of his past.
However, it will be fulfilled, however, in a new land and through an immense lineage, where everything becomes a blessing.
If we too allow ourselves to be called by faith to embark on this journey and take risks in our lives and loves, we too will stop fearing loss, because we will feel that we are growing in a richness that no one can steal.
The disciples of Jesus also had to make a journey that would take them to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51 – When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem).
There, in the Holy City, the Master would fulfil his mission, by giving his life on the cross and becoming a blessing to all and forever.
We know how much resistance Peter and all the others showed in following him.
But they had to understand that one can only be a blessing by overcoming the instinct to defend oneself and accepting the Eucharistic gesture entrusted to Jesus: offering one’s body as bread to be eaten and lived by, in order to give life.
Dear brothers and sisters,
This is Sunday: a day when we pause in our journey and come together around Jesus.
Jesus encourages us not to give up or change direction.
There is no greater promise, no greater treasure than living to give life!
Shortly before the Day of the Transfiguration, Jesus confided in his disciples about the destination of their journey: his passion, death and resurrection.
You may recall Peter’s opposition and Jesus’ response when Peter said to him: “You are a stumbling block to me, because you do not think as God does, but as humans do” (Matthew 16:23).
Six days later, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to accompany him to the mountain.
The words were still ringing in their ears; the image of the Messiah condemned to death was still fresh in their minds.
Jesus breaks through the disciples’ inner darkness when he shows himself transfigured in a dazzling, unimaginable light on the top of the mountain.
In this glorious vision, Moses and Elijah also appear beside him as witnesses to the fulfilment of all the Scriptures in Jesus. (Matthew 17:2-3).
Once again, Peter is the voice of our old world, desperate to stop and control things.
It’s a bit like when we don’t want the dream we’ve taken refuge in to end.
Here, however, it is not a dream, but a new world to enter: the destination of our journey — a place full of light, with human and divine contours, and the face of Jesus.
By pitching tents, Peter wants to stop the journey, but he must continue to Jerusalem.
The voice from the cloud is that of the Father. seemingly an imploration: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”.
That voice resounds for us today: “Listen to Jesus!”.
And I, dear friends, want to echo that appeal and say to you: I beg you, sisters and brothers, let us listen to him!
He travels with us even today to teach us the logic of unconditional love and the abandonment of any defense that could cause offence.
Let us listen to him and enter his light, so that we can become the light of the world, starting with our neighborhood.
The purpose of the parish and its groups is to achieve this.
It is a service to light, a service to joy.
Following the Transfiguration on the mountain, Jesus’ journey continues.
The Church, and even the parish, also receives a mission from this Gospel.
In the face of the many complex problems in this area, which you will experience during your time here, you are entrusted with the pedagogy of faith, which transforms everything with hope. You are encouraged to embrace passion, sharing and creativity as a remedy for the many challenges in this neighborhood.
I am very happy to have learned that this parish community is vibrant and active, and that despite the serious issues in the local area, its members courageously bear witness to the Gospel.
Under the motto “Let’s Make Community”, the parish has embarked on a journey to strengthen the sense of belonging and welcome everyone with open arms — really everyone!
I encourage you to continue on this path of openness to the territory and healing its wounds.
I hope that others will join you here in Quarticciolo, a place of goodness and justice.
Your commitment as young people, also deserves to be encouraged.
The “Magis” path, which you presented to me a few minutes ago and which has been proposed here for some years, refers to the “more”, that which St Ignatius of Loyola talks about in the Spiritual Exercises.
It encourages adolescents to overcome mediocrity by choosing a courageous, authentic and good life, finding its “Magis” par excellence in Jesus Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters,
You are a sign of hope.
The light of the Transfiguration is already present in this community, because the Lord is at work here and because many of you have faith in his transformative power.
When we realise that so many things around us are wrong, we sometimes wonder whether what we are doing makes sense.
We become discouraged, losing motivation and momentum.
However, it is precisely in the face of the mystery of evil that we must bear witness to our identity as Christians — people who strive to make the Kingdom of God a reality in their time and place.
I wish this for all of you, for this parish community, and for the many brothers and sisters who have not yet recognized Jesus as the true light and true joy.
In the face of everything that disfigures humanity and life, we continue to proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel, which transforms and brings life.
May the Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Church, accompany us and intercede for us always.
