Readings
First Reading: Genesis 22: 1-18
Second Reading: Romans 8: 31-34Gospel: Mark 9: 2-10
Anecdotes
1) Transformation
from pro-choice to pro-life : Dr. Peggy Hartshorn, president of Heartbeat
International, tells a dramatic story about a woman who glimpsed the mystery of
her unborn child. The young woman was seeking an abortion. She simply could not
handle having a baby at this time. But she agreed to an ultrasound. When the
baby appeared on the screen, the woman was amazed to see the perfectly formed
body, the tiny legs and arms moving inside her womb. But the woman kept saying,
"No, no, I have to have an abortion." Dr. Hartshorn felt sad. She
knew that seventy-five percent of women who see an ultrasound decide to keep
their baby - but that a quarter, nevertheless, still have the abortion. It
seemed like this woman would be in that twenty-five percent. All of sudden, Dr.
Hartshorn's assistant said, "Reach out and take your baby's hand."
Dr. Hartshorn thought, "Oh, gosh, why is she saying that?" But the
woman raised her hand and touched the monitor. As if by some divine cue, the
baby stretched out his arm to the exact place of his mom's hand. On the screen
his tiny fingers met hers. She kept her baby. There is a mystery inside each
one of us - the mystery of the image of God. Today’s gospel tells us how three
of the apostles saw a glimpse, a tiny glimpse, of who Jesus was. That would
transform them and sustain them through some dark moments following Jesus’
arrest.
2) A Death That Gives Life: A few years ago, the television and print media carried the story of a seven-year-old boy who died in tragic circumstances while on vacation with his family in Italy. Armed thieves, attempting to take the family’s car and valuables, waited in ambush in the Italian countryside. As the car passed, the thieves sprayed a shower of bullets at the vehicle. Although the family was able to escape, some of the bullets had hit the young boy, while he slept in the back seat. A short time later, the child was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. People were shocked and outraged as the sad news was reported. But public outrage was soon replaced by wonder and admiration. The boy’s family arranged that all of their son’s vital organs be harvested and donated. As a result, the lives of eight Italians, each of whom received one or more of the child’ healthy organs, were forever changed. For some it meant being able to see again; for others death was postponed because a young vital organ had replaced an aged, defective one. Because organ donation was such a rarity in Italy, the gift of life was all the more remarkable. This story reminds us of the death of another son, whose dying brought life to so many. It is the life-giving death of this other son, namely, Jesus, which is the focus of our scripture readings for today.
2) A Death That Gives Life: A few years ago, the television and print media carried the story of a seven-year-old boy who died in tragic circumstances while on vacation with his family in Italy. Armed thieves, attempting to take the family’s car and valuables, waited in ambush in the Italian countryside. As the car passed, the thieves sprayed a shower of bullets at the vehicle. Although the family was able to escape, some of the bullets had hit the young boy, while he slept in the back seat. A short time later, the child was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. People were shocked and outraged as the sad news was reported. But public outrage was soon replaced by wonder and admiration. The boy’s family arranged that all of their son’s vital organs be harvested and donated. As a result, the lives of eight Italians, each of whom received one or more of the child’ healthy organs, were forever changed. For some it meant being able to see again; for others death was postponed because a young vital organ had replaced an aged, defective one. Because organ donation was such a rarity in Italy, the gift of life was all the more remarkable. This story reminds us of the death of another son, whose dying brought life to so many. It is the life-giving death of this other son, namely, Jesus, which is the focus of our scripture readings for today.
3) "It's kind of
hard to explain." A little boy asked his mother, "Marriage makes
you have babies, doesn't it, Mom?" The mother reluctantly answered her
son, "Well, not exactly. Just because you are married does not mean that
you have a baby." The boy continued his inquiry: "Then how do you
have babies?" His mother, not very enthusiastic about continuing,
answered, "It's kind of hard to explain." The boy paused and thought
for a moment. He then moved closer to Mom, looked her right in eye, and
carefully said, "You don't really know how it works, do you, Mom?"
(Pastor's Story File, October 1995 Submitted by Jim Pearring, New Harbor
Community Church, Benicia, California). Believe it our not, this is one of the
most dreaded Sundays in the Christian year for folks who use the Lectionary for
their preaching. Why? Because it deals with the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Generally, this is one of those "What does that mean and how am I supposed
to explain that?" sort of passages.
Introduction
The readings for the Second Sunday of Lent highlight Jesus’
identity as God’s beloved Son (revealed at his baptism and transfiguration),
and confront us with the mystery of his death on the cross. Hence, the main
purpose of today’s readings is to give us an invitation as well as a challenge
to put our faith in the loving promises of a merciful God Who sent His Son to
die for us and to transform our lives by renewing them during Lent. Our
transformed lives will enable us to radiate the glory and grace of the
transfigured Lord around us by our Spirit-filled lives. The first reading shows
us how God saved the life of Abraham’s son Isaac as a reward for Abraham’s
trusting faith. Because of this faith, the Lord renewed his promise to Abraham
for the blessings of land and progeny. While Abraham’s son Isaac was spared,
God’s beloved son Jesus underwent a cruel death on the cross. The linking of
this story with the Gospel reading emphasizes God's infinite love, as seen in
the redemptive sacrifice of his own Son for the salvation of the world. If the
mystery of the sacrifice of Abraham’s beloved son, Isaac, is hard to
understand, the mystery of the death of God’s beloved Son, Jesus, is far more
challenging. That is why Paul reminds us, in the second reading, that God the
Father did not spare his own Son‘s life What an irony and paradox! God spared
Abraham’s son, but not his own! Why? Because God loves us with an everlasting
love. Paul interprets God’s willingness to sacrifice his own Son as proof of
His great love for humankind and as God’s pledge that He will always protect
and provide for us. Today’s psalm speaks of God’s distress at the death of
anyone. “Too costly in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful.” In
the transfiguration story in today’s gospel, Jesus is revealed as a glorious
figure, superior to Moses and Elijah. He is identified by the heavenly Voice as
the Son of God. Thus, the transfiguration narrative is a Christophany, that is,
a manifestation or revelation of who Jesus really is. Describing Jesus’
transfiguration, the gospel shows us a glimpse of the heavenly glory awaiting
those who do God’s will by putting their trusting faith in Him.
First reading,
Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18:
The command to Abraham to sacrifice his only child was a
real test of Abraham’s great faith and total trust in God. God had promised
that Abraham would become the father of many nations. How could this be
possible if Isaac were to be sacrificed? Although Yahweh’s command was most
painful, Abraham trusted that God was both faithful enough and powerful enough
to keep His promise. The Lord responded by renewing his promise to Abraham that
he would be the father of a great race. His progeny throughout the whole world
would receive the blessing of God – divine adoption through the incarnation.
Not only would his descendants be blessed, but all the nations of the earth
would be blessed in him. The story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac
carries great significance. There is a clear parallel with Jesus in this story.
Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son is a prototype of God the Father and
His Son Jesus. But the difference is that while Isaac was spared at the last
moment, Jesus had to die. Just as to sacrifice his only son did not make sense
to Abraham, it made even less sense to the disciples of Jesus that God could
allow their Lord and master Jesus to be executed. It was only after Pentecost that
the apostles realized that our eternal salvation was brought about by the
suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Second Reading,
Romans 8:31b-34:
This passage shares with the first reading the image of a
father's willingness to give up his son and the son’s readiness to accept the
father’s will wholeheartedly. Paul assures us that it is by the perfect
obedience to the will of his Father, expressed in his suffering and death, that
Jesus was glorified and made our heavenly intercessor. Paul also affirms that
He who gave His Son for us will give us all things with him. We have every
reason to have confidence in God because it is Christ Jesus at the right hand
of the Father who intercedes for us, and nothing can separate us from the love
of Christ for us. Paul’s argument runs like this: “If God is for us, who is
against us?" Paul argues that the greatest proof that God is for us is the
fact of the incarnation and crucifixion of His Son Jesus for us sinners. It
necessarily follows that God will give us the assistance that we need to get to
heaven.
Exegesis
The objective: The primary purpose of Jesus’ transfiguration
was to allow Him to consult his heavenly Father and ascertain His plan for His
Son’s suffering, death and resurrection. The secondary aim was to make his
chosen disciples aware of his divine glory so that they might discard their
worldly ambitions and dreams of a conquering political Messiah and might be
strengthened in their time of trial. The Transfiguration also established
Jesus’ glorious identity as the beloved Son of God, and placed his divine
Sonship in the context of Jewish expectations about the kingdom and the
resurrection. The event took place in late summer, just prior to the Feast of
the Tabernacles. Hence, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Transfiguration at
about the time of the year when it actually occurred, in order to connect it
with the Old Testament Feast of the Tabernacles. The Western tradition recalls
the Transfiguration at the beginning of Lent, then celebrates the formal feast
on August 6.
The location of the Transfiguration was probably Mount
Hermon in North Galilee, near Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had camped a week
before this wondrous event. Mt. Hermon was a desolate mountain, 9200 feet high.
The traditional oriental belief that Transfiguration took place on Mount Tabor
is based on Psalm 89:12. But Mount Tabor is a small mountain or a big hill in
the south of Galilee, less than 1000 feet high, with a Roman fort built on it.
Hence, it would have been an unlikely place for solitude and prayer.
The scene of heavenly glory: While praying, Jesus was
transfigured into a shining figure, full of heavenly glory. This reminds us of
Moses and Elijah who also experienced the Lord in all His glory. Moses had met
the Lord in the burning bush at Mount Horeb (Exodus 3:1-4). After his encounter
with God, Moses' face shone so brightly that the people were frightened, and
Moses had to wear a veil over his face (Exodus 34:29-35). The Jews believed
that Moses was taken up in a cloud at end of his earthly life (Josephus,
Antiquities of the Jews 4. 326). Elijah traveled for forty days to Mt. Horeb on
the strength of the food brought by an angel (1 Kings 19:8). At Mt. Horeb,
Elijah sought refuge in a cave as the glory of the Lord passed over him (1
Kings 19:9-18). Finally, Elijah was taken directly to heaven in a chariot of
fire without seeing death (2 Kings 2:11 -15). These representatives of the Law
and the Prophets – Moses and Elijah - foreshadowed Jesus, who is the
culmination of the Law and the Prophets. Both earlier prophets were initially
rejected by the people but vindicated by God. The Jews believed that the Lord
had buried Moses in an unknown place after his death (Deut 34: 5-6), and that
Elijah had been carried to heaven in a whirlwind (II Kings 2:11). Thus, the
implication is that, although God spared Elijah from the normal process of
death and Moses from normal burial, He did not spare His Son suffering and
death. Peter, overwhelmed at the scene, says how good it is to be there. His
remark about three booths (or tents) may be a reference to the Jewish festival
of Succoth, the most joyful of Jewish holy days, when booths were erected from
which all kinds of presents and sweets came. Or it may be a reference of
reverence, alluding to tabernacles to house the patriarchs and the Son of God.
God the Father’s voice from the cloud: The book of Exodus
describes how God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai from the cloud. God often made
appearances in a cloud (Exod 24:15-17; 13:21 -22; 34:5; 40:34; 1 Kings
8:10-11). I Kings, 8: 10 tells us how by the cover of a cloud, God revealed His
presence in the Ark of the Covenant and in the Temple of Jerusalem on the day
of its dedication. The Jews generally believed that the phenomenon of the cloud
would be repeated when the Messiah arrived. God the Father, Moses and Elijah
approved the plan regarding Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection. God’s
words from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him,” are similar to
the words used by God at Jesus' baptism: “You are My beloved Son; with you I am
well pleased” Mark 1:11). At the moment of Jesus’ death, a Roman centurion
would declare, “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (15:39). These words
summarize the meaning of the Transfiguration, that on this mountain, God
revealed Jesus as His son -- His beloved -- the One in whom He is always well
pleased and the One to whom we must listen.
The three transformations in our lives in our journey
towards eternity: The first change begins at Baptism which washes away original
sin, transforming us into children of God and heirs of heaven. The second
transformation takes place through our victory over the trials and tribulations
of life. Every challenge, every difficulty, every moment of suffering, is an
opportunity for transformation and spiritual growth. The third transformation
takes place at death. Eternal life in heaven, perhaps after a period of further
transformation in purgatory, is granted to those who have been found worthy.
The last transformation or transfiguration will be completed at the Second
Coming when our glorified body is reunited with our soul.
Life messages:
1) The transubstantiation in the Holy Mass is the source of
our strength: In each Holy Mass, the bread and wine we offer on the altar
become “transfigured” – “transformed” into the crucified and risen, living body
and blood of Jesus. Just as Jesus' transfiguration strengthened the apostles in
their time of trial, each holy Mass should be our source of heavenly strength
against temptations, and our renewal during Lent. In addition, our holy communion
with the living Jesus should be the source of our daily “transfiguration,”
transforming our minds and hearts so that we may do more good by humble and
selfless service to others.
2) Each time we receive one of the sacraments, we are
transformed: For example, baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God
and heirs of heaven. Confirmation makes us temples of the Holy Spirit and
warriors of God. By the sacrament of reconciliation, God brings back the sinner
to the path of holiness.
3) A message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt
and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, the thought of our
transfiguration in heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His
consoling words: "This is my beloved son." Let us offer our Lenten
sacrifices to our Lord, that through these practices of Lent and through the
acceptance of our daily crosses we may become closer to him in his suffering
and may share in the carrying of his cross so that we may finally share the
glory of his final “transfiguration,” his Resurrection.
4) We need 'mountain-top experiences' in our lives: We share
the mountain-top experience of Peter, James and John when we spend extra time
in prayer during Lent. Fasting for one day will help the body to store up
spiritual energy. This spiritual energy can help us have thoughts that are far
higher and nobler than our usual mundane thinking. The hunger we experience
puts us more closely in touch with God and makes us more willing to help the
hungry. The crosses of our daily lives also can lead us to the glory of
transfiguration and resurrection.
Additional Anecdotes
1) "The March of
the Ducks." On the side of the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida,
there is a cutout of a large duck symbolizing what came to be known as
"The March of the Ducks." Each day at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., the hotel
people lay down a dazzling red carpet across the lobby. Then one of John
Phillip Sousa's famous marches is played over the intercom. Whereupon, ten
ducks, in single file, march down the red carpet in perfect harmony with the
Sousa march. The ducks take a dip in the hotel fountain and then march out
again in single file, down the red carpet, keeping perfectly in step with the
beat of the music. For those who have witnessed "The March of the
Ducks," it is an event so vivid and real and uplifting and fun-filled that
it's difficult to find the right words to describe the wonder and the beauty of
it -- much less try to convince someone that it is true. Today's Gospel Lesson
describes an event called “transfiguration of Jesus” so wondrous and so
beautiful as to defy all description (Watch:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=March+of+the+Peabody+ducks&um).
2) Noah and the ark: Two
men were standing on a big city waiting shed, on a rainy day, trying to hire a
taxicab, not an easy task, since it was raining very hard. One man turned to
the other and started a conversation which went as follows:
First man: "If it keeps raining like this we'll all
have to build an ark."
Second man: "What's an ark?"
First man: "You mean you haven't heard about Noah and
the ark, and the great flood and all those animals?"
Second man: "Look, my friend, I've only been in town
for a day, and I haven't even had time to read a newspaper." Today's
Gospel Lesson includes Mark's version of the Transfiguration story. Did I hear
someone ask, "What's a Transfiguration?"
3) Metamorphosis of a
revolutionary: The word "Transfiguration," means "a change
in form or appearance". Biologists call it metamorphosis, the same Greek
word used by the evangelist. There is a beautiful story told by Fr. Anthony de
Mello in his book Song of the Bird, about the prayer of an old man who had
experienced such a metamorphosis. ‘‘I was a revolutionary when I was young and
all 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 my
changing a single soul, I modified my prayer to: ‘Lord, give me the grace to
change 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 should not have wasted my life.’’
4)"I have seen
the face of the pilot.” Robert Louis Stevenson tells the story about a ship
that was in serious trouble in a storm. A passenger on that ship, defying
orders, made his way to the pilot, who seeing the fear on the passenger's face
gave him a smile of assurance. Relieved, the traveler returned to his cabin and
said, "I have seen the face of the pilot. He smiled and all is well."
There are times in life when we need to see our pilot face-to-face. That's what
happened in this mystical story that the Church calls the Transfiguration of
Christ. Peter, James and John were there. Moses and Elijah showed up from the past.
They have an experience that is mystical and out of this world. "Turn you
eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face." What would a glimpse of
Christ himself mean to you today?
5) Could your soul
use a lift today? People pay big money for radiant faces these days. Face
lifts are a thriving business. The only problem is that the soul has a way of
seeping through. Maxwell Maltz is a plastic surgeon. He's in the business of
lifting people's faces, but, Dr. Maltz says, "Even though I get marvelous
results, patients are often not happy. I have come to realize that inner scars
are much more difficult to remove than outer ones." Could your soul use a
lift today? Have depression, difficulty, duties and daily routines caused your
soul to sag, your spirit to falter, your heart to sink? Christ came to lift us.
Our reflections on the transfigured Christ will give us a spiritual lift.
6) “I'll fight, I'll
fight, I'll fight to the very end." William Booth. He was a Methodist
preacher, too, you know. "Willful Will" they called him, but Booth
became disillusioned with the political wrangling of the Methodists. So he left
the church and started a Christian mission in the poverty-stricken East Side of
London that reached out to the worst. That Christian mission became the
Salvation Army, which declared war on poverty and homelessness. Or, as William
Booth said: "While women weep, as they do now. I'll fight. While children
go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight. While there remains one dark soul
without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very
end." That was one hundred years ago. It seems like the kind of war all of
us could get behind, the war on poverty, the war on homelessness. Maybe it's
time for another William Booth. If you have a heart, help us. Discipleship is a
matter of your heart. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His
wonderful face” as Peter did on the mount of transfiguration. He'll give you a
lift. He'll give you a life.
7) An army of green
giants who kept on coming and coming. The legendary football coach Knute
Rockne knew the power of fear. Today we call it "psyching out your
opponent." Notre Dame was facing a critical football game against a vastly
superior Southern California team. Rockne recruited every brawny student he
could find at Notre Dame and suited up about a hundred "hulks" in the
school uniform. On the day of the game the Southern California team ran out on
the field first and awaited the visiting Fighting Irish. Then, out of the
dressing room came an army of green giants who kept on coming and coming. The
USC team panicked. Their coach reminded them that Rockne could only play eleven
men at a time, but the damage was done. USC lost. They did not lose to the
hundred men. They were beaten by their own fear. [A. Philip Parham, Letting
God, (New York: Harper & Row). 3. W. Howard Chase in Vital Speeches.]
Today’s gospel says: “[Peter] hardly knew what to say, they
were so terrified.” Witnessing the transfiguration of Christ was not the only
time the disciples were fearful in Jesus' presence.
8) “I meet God about
1 in every 8 worship services”: A young woman asked her older co-worker:
“Why do you go to church every Sunday? Does something happen there that can’t
happen somewhere else? And does it happen every Sunday?” The older woman
replied, “What happens is I go to meet the God whom I’ve come to know in Jesus.
God meets me in other settings than at church. However, I must confess that I’m
sure I miss most of God’s appointments with me. I find that I live most of my
days in a daze – as though I’m sleepwalking or on autopilot. I go to church to
be reminded that that’s true.” The younger woman then asked, “So you go to
church every week and God meets you there?” The older woman answered, “I go to
church every Sunday and for reasons I can’t explain, I meet God about 1 in
every 8 worship services.” The younger woman asked, “Then why do you go every
Sunday?” “I go every Sunday,” said the older woman, “because I never know when
that one Sunday is going to be.” Peter, John and James had that experience on
the mountain of transfiguration.
9) Edmund Hillary and
a Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay: Those of us who are old enough certainly
recall that amazing story of almost sixty years ago, May 29, 1953. A New
Zealand beekeeper named Edmund Hillary and a Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, were
the first ever to reach Everest's summit. Here was a mountain - unreachable,
tantalizing, fearsome, deadly - that had defeated 15 previous expeditions. Some
of the planet's strongest climbers had perished on its slopes. For many,
Everest represented the last of the earth's great challenges. The North Pole
had been reached in 1909; the South Pole in 1911. But Everest, often called the
Third Pole, had defied all human efforts - reaching its summit seemed beyond
mere mortals. (Don George, "A Man to Match His Mountain,"
http://www.salon.com/bc/1998/12/cov_01bc.html) Now, success. And heightening
the impact even further was the delicious coincidence of their arrival just
before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and of the dramatic announcement of
their triumph on the morning of the coronation. A "mountain-top
experience"...literally. Today’s gospel presents the mountain-top
experience of Peter, John and James.
10) "Well, what
is it?" H.G. Wells once told a fascinating story. It is about an
Episcopalian bishop, though he could have been a cleric in any denomination. He
was the kind of man who could always be counted on to provide a pious
platitude. He had a favorite answer that always served him in good stead. When
troubled folks came to him, he would assume his best stained-glass voice and
ask, "Have you prayed about it?" If said in just the right way, no
more needed to be said. The bishop himself didn't pray much. After all, his
life was quite uneventful. He felt quite self-sufficient. One day, however,
life tumbled in on him, and he found himself overwhelmed. It occurred to the
bishop that maybe he should take some of his own advice. So, one Saturday
afternoon he entered the cathedral. He knelt down and folded his hands before
the altar. He could not help but think how childlike he was. Then he began to
pray, "O God...." Suddenly there was a voice. It was crisp,
businesslike. The voice said, "Well, what is it?" When the worshipers
came to Sunday services the next morning, they found the bishop sprawled face
down before the altar. When they turned him over, they discovered he was dead.
Lines of horror were etched upon his face. The good bishop had advised others
to approach God in prayer, but when he found himself face to face with the
Almighty, it scared him literally to death as Christ’s transfiguration scene
scared the three apostles. (Haddon Robinson, Preaching Today).
11) Serve others
after the mountain-top experience: In Port Arthur, Texas, there is a special
school for very sick children, most of whom have few, if any, motor skills. One
very sick boy lived at that school, dying little by little. As tragic as that
is, that's not the point of the story. Unfortunately children get grievously
ill every day. This little boy, though, had the good fortune to be living in
the same community with some faithful believers who took the transfiguration
story as their own. God's glory lived in them. They carried it with them
wherever they went. A group of these folks joined together to go to this little
boy every day and read to him. Since he was slowly dying, unable to move or
read for himself, their act of kindness and ministry was the only activity that
brought him any comfort. The social workers were amazed. Just being read to by
three different women, one every day, transformed that boy. He was transformed
from being depressed and despondent into a responsive bright young man. And
even though his spark of life would soon leave him, it got brighter and
brighter not dimmer. The boy died, but his life had been forever changed. It
had been transformed by the ministry of these caring Christians. They had
allowed the light of Christ to shine through them. And a young boy's life had
been transformed. [The Clergy Journal, Logos Productions Inc, Inver Grove
Heights, MN, Vol LXXIII, Number 7, pp. 88.)
12) Moses’ flute:
John Killinger tells the legend about "the simple shepherd's pipe once
played by Moses when he kept his father-in-law's flocks. When the pipe was
discovered, many years after Moses' death, it was decided that it should be put
on display for the benefit of his admirers. But it looked far too common for
such an important purpose, so someone suggested that it be embellished by an
artist. A few centuries later, when the pipe was given a new home in an upscale
museum, a committee said it needed improving yet again. So another artist was
employed to overlay it in fine gold and silver filigree. The result, in the
end, was a breathtaking piece of art, a marvelous sight indeed. It was so
beautiful, in fact, that no one ever noticed that it was no longer capable of
the clear, seductive notes once played upon it by Moses." [God, the Devil,
and Harry Potter (New York: Thomas Dunne, 2002), 162-3.] How do we tell what
voices to listen to, whose advice to take, what directives are important, and
what we should just let fall on deaf ears? In today's gospel text, the divine
Voice from the enshrouding cloud offered Peter, James, and John simple,
straightforward words: "This is My Beloved Son; listen to Him." The
message and mission of Jesus was to guide the disciples, informing all their
actions, influencing all else they heard. God's proclamation to those three
disciples is the same for all who follow Christ today: Let Jesus be your high-tech
hearing aid, filtering and clarifying what you hear and how you respond. Listen
to him. Or as Jesus put it elsewhere, "Learn from Me."
13) Baby powder: You
might remember comedian Yakov Smirnoff. When he first came to the United States
from Russia, he was not prepared for the incredible variety of instant products
available in American grocery stores. He says, "On my first shopping trip,
I saw powdered milk: you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered
orange juice: you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby
powder, and I thought to my self, ‘What a country!’"
Smirnoff is joking but we make these assumptions about
Christian Transformation—that people change instantly at salvation. Some
denominations make Christianity so simple: accept Jesus as your Lord and
Savior, confess your sins to him, you are instantly saved and born again. Some
traditions call it repentance and renewal. Some call it Sanctification of the
believer. Whatever you call it most traditions expect some quick fix to sin. We
go to church as if we are going to the grocery store: Powdered Christian. Just
add water and disciples are born not made. Unfortunately, there is no such
powder, and disciples of Jesus Christ are not instantly born. They are slowly
raised through many trials, suffering, and temptations.
Jokes
1) Transformation in
old age: Two old men are chatting. One man says, "My friend, you must
try this memory pill I'm taking. I remember everything. It's an amazing memory
booster." The other man says, "Sounds wonderful. What is the name of
the pill?" The first man says, "Hmm! The name of the pill ... Let’s
see ... Hmmm, what is the name of the flower produced on a garden plant with thorns?
It's red ... You give it on Valentine's Day." The other man says, "A
rose?" The first man says, "Yes, that's right!" Then, calling
for his wife, he says, "Rose, what is the name of that pill which I take
to boost my memory?"
2) Lenten penance:
An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and
promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the
man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone and orders three
more. As this continued every day the bartender asked him politely, "The
folks around here are wondering why you always order three beers?"
"It’s odd, isn't it?" the man replies, "You see, I have two
brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each
other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank."
Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers.
As this continued for several days, the bartender approached him with tears in
his eyes and said, "Folks around here, me first of all, want to offer
condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know-the two beers and
all..." The man ponders this for a moment, and then replies with a broad
smile, "You'll be happy to know that my two brothers are alive and well. It’s
just that I, myself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent. Now I am
drinking for the other two!"
SYNOPSIS FOR LENT II
(MARCH 4) ON MK 9: 2-10
Introduction
The common theme of today’s readings is metamorphosis or
transformation. The readings invite us to work with the Holy Spirit to
transform our lives by renewing them during Lent, and to radiate the grace of
the transfigured Lord around us by our Spirit-filled lives.
Scripture Lessons
The first reading shows us how God saved the life of
Abraham’s son Isaac as a reward for Abraham’s trusting faith. While Abraham’s
son Isaac was spared, God’s beloved son Jesus underwent a cruel death on the
cross, for the salvation of the world, thus showing God's infinite love for
mankind. That is why Paul recalls, in the second reading, that God the Father
did not spare his own Son’s life. God spared Abraham’s son, but not his own!
Why? Because God loves us with an everlasting love. Today’s psalm speaks of
God’s distress at the death of anyone. “Too costly in the eyes of the LORD is
the death of his faithful” In the transfiguration story in today’s gospel,
Jesus is revealed as a glorious figure, superior to Moses and Elijah. He is
identified by the heavenly Voice as the Son of God. Thus, the transfiguration
narrative is a Christophany, that is, a manifestation or revelation of who
Jesus really is. Describing Jesus’ transfiguration, the gospel gives us a
glimpse of the heavenly glory awaiting those who do God’s will by putting their
trusting faith in Him. The primary purpose of Jesus’ transfiguration was to
allow Him to consult his heavenly Father and ascertain His plan for His Son’s
suffering, death and resurrection. The secondary aim was to make his chosen
disciples aware of his divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly
ambitions and dreams of a conquering political Messiah and might be
strengthened in their time of trial.
Life Messages
(1) The transubstantiation in the Holy Mass is the source of
our strength: In each Holy Mass, the bread and wine we offer on the altar
become “transfigured” – “transformed” into the crucified and risen, living body
and blood of Jesus. Just as Jesus' transfiguration strengthened the apostles in
their time of trial, each holy Mass should be our source of heavenly strength
against temptations, and our renewal during Lent. In addition, our holy
communion with the living Jesus should be the source of our daily
“transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts so that we may do more
good by humble and selfless service to others.
(2) A message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt
and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, the thought of our
transfiguration in heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His
consoling words: "This is my beloved son." Let us offer our Lenten
sacrifices to our Lord, that through these practices of Lent and through the
acceptance of our daily crosses we may become closer to him in his suffering
and may share in the carrying of his cross so that we may finally share the
glory of his second “transfiguration,” his Resurrection.