Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Lent has always been a challenge for me, even as a priest. Every year, I begin with good intentions—praying more, fasting with discipline, giving more generously. But I must be honest: there have been times when I reached Easter and realized that, despite my sacrifices, I had not truly allowed God to transform me. I had prayed more, yes. But had I let Him changed my heart? Some years, I had to admit that I had not.
Maybe you have felt the same way. Maybe you have given up chocolate, coffee, or social media, yet deep down, you know these sacrifices—while good—have not truly touched your soul. Maybe you have prayed more but kept your prayers safe, never daring to ask God to take you beyond what is comfortable. Maybe you have tried to be kinder, more patient, more forgiving, but still find yourself falling into old habits of frustration, judgment and resentment. Maybe you have given more generously, shared your resources, yet still hold back something far more precious—your trust, your time, your vulnerability, or your willingness to surrender completely to God’s will.
The Transfiguration of Jesus, as told in this Sunday’s Gospel (Lk 9:28b-36), is a wake-up call for us all. Jesus reveals his glory, and the disciples fall to the ground in awe. But Jesus does not allow them to stay on the mountain. He calls them to rise, to descend, to be changed by what they have witnessed.
Lent is our mountain. It is a time to step away, to listen more closely, to allow God to show us something new. But we cannot stay here. We must be changed. Transformation is not about a vague idea of holiness—it is about real, concrete change in our thoughts, actions, and relationships.
I have experienced this in my own life. I have struggled with pride, convinced that I know best, only for God to humble me—sometimes painfully—teaching me to listen more and speak less. I have wrestled with fear, even in my priesthood, hesitant to step into the unknown. But each time I have truly trusted God, He has led me somewhere better than I could have imagined. I have learned that forgiveness, though difficult, brings true freedom, and that surrendering control is often the key to finding peace.
Perhaps you, too, have experienced transformation—overcoming a grudge, battling fear, or taking steps to return to God. These are moments of transfiguration, glimpses of His glory at work in us.
But we must bring that change into our everyday lives. What in your life needs to change this Lent? What is God asking you to surrender or renew? Maybe you need to let go of a habit keeping you from holiness. Maybe you need to be more present to your family. Maybe you need to stop making excuses and commit to a deeper prayer life. Maybe you need to step beyond fear and finally do what God has been asking of you. Let this be the Lent where your faith moves from inspiration to action.
Fr. Anthony de Mello tells a story: “When I was young, my prayer to God was: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change the world.’ As I approached middle age and realized that half of my life was gone without changing a single soul, I changed my prayer to: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come in contact with me—just my family and friends—and I shall be satisfied.’ Now that I am old and my days are numbered, I have begun to see how foolish I have been. My one prayer now is: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change myself.’ If I had prayed for this right from the start, I would not have wasted my life” (vaticannews.va).
This is our moment. This is our chance. Lent is not just about giving something up—it is about becoming someone new. It is about allowing Christ to transform us, so that when Easter morning comes, we do not just celebrate His resurrection—we live it.
Do not waste this Lent. Do not leave this season unchanged. Let Christ transfigure you.
With every prayer and blessing,
Msgr. Cuong M. Pham