I am sure that most of us have read the little story from the pen of Washington Irving entitled Rip Van Winkle. The one thing we usually remember is that Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years. But, there is another point that is completely overlooked. It was the sign at then…..when he went to the mountain picture of King George…came down it was George Washington. Rip Van Winkle looked at the sign and was completely lost. The most striking thing is not that he slept for 20 years, but that he slept through a revolution! While he was snoring away, a Revolution took place (changed history). One of the greatest liabilities of life is that all too many people find themselves amidst a great period of social change and yet fail to develop new attitudes, new mental responses that the new situation demands. They end up sleeping through a revolution. Even look at our readings. As God comes, the sun sets and Moses goes into a trance. In the Gospel, the disciples are overcome by sleep. My brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that a revolution is taking place in our world today (technology, weaponry, human rights, freedom). In this period of transition, it is easy to become a Rip Van Winkle. Sleep through when we fail to develop new attitudes and responses. This 2nd Sunday of Lent, transfiguration: Christ is the son of God and we are his followers and the scene is put before us so we do not sleep – rather, so we realize our call. Cultivate attitudes of love toward all, especially attitudes of mental attitudes that welcome the stranger among us. The transfiguration scene is to awaken our faith in Jesus Christ and to move us from sleep to action. Please do not make the story of Washington Irving a truth. Awake, oh sleeper, for our savior has come.