Down-to-earth straightforward language and advice from St James in this week before we begin Lent. He says, 'we all make mistakes', and now here's a time to be more mindful of that, correct what we can, and ask God's grace and pardon for our sins and sinfulness.

The focus of Lent is, of course, not negative. It's geared towards Easter and celebrating the Lord's passover, the resurrection of Christ. Today's gospel is a special reminder of that, about Jesus' transfiguration on a mountaintop in the sight of His three favoured disciples. In fact we'll be hearing this same gospel again on the 2nd Sunday of Lent, it's such an important one in anticipating Baptism and Easter.

Jesus gave His disciples this "preview" of His glory in order to help them understand what would be happening to Him when He would be persecuted, suffer abuse and torture, be killed, and then rise from death. He would be fulfilling the promises of God's covenant with his people, that is, 'the Law and the Prophets'. That's why Moses and Elijah are seen with Him.

Of course His disciples didn't understand any of this at the time, especially about His having to suffer and His rising. We also have much we don't really appreciate or understand about God's gifts to us, His revealing of Himself in Jesus' love for each of us. Let's place ourselves there on the mountain with Jesus, and talk with Him about these things.