August 06, 2012
FEAST OF THE LORD'S TRANSFIGURATION
Dn 7,9-10.13-14 . 2Pt 1,16-19
Mk 9,2-10
===
Jesus is on a different mood on today's feast. He had visitors - well, they are not-so-ordinary - two men from the past and a mysterious voice. How exciting!
Well, just as it is exciting, it is also an exhibition of how great our God is. On our Sunday readings we witnessed how Jesus performed miracles for the benefit of all the on-lookers. He multiplied the loaves and fish for all to eat and be full. Yesterday, he introduced himself as the food which came from Heaven with the premise that Whoever eats me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
Today, we celebrate that majestic moment when Our Lord Jesus transfigured on the top of the mountain, at the sight of a few apostles. His clothes became dazzling white, such as no filler on earth could bleach them. He was also visited by Moses and Elijah, thus confirming Jesus' role as the culmination of the law and prophecy. And then, from a cloud came a voice: This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!
He presents himself in glory as the God he really is, and unlike the time of Moses that whoever sees God's glory will die, Jesus did not hesitate to present his majesty before Peter, James and John. For these three, whose hearts were grappling with fear, Jesus is not a 'fake' prophet anymore; he is real, in fact he is who he tells the people is, the Son of God!
Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Peter, in spite of fear (he even had a 'wacky' offer of three tents of Jesus, Moses and Elijah), was still able to utter these words of amazement. It is not that he is dumb-stricken again; for him, it was an declaration of the greatness of God manifest before his eyes. Though he will deny Jesus in front of the people on the sorrowful hours of his life, Peter would still stand as the main witness to Jesus' life, preaching and saving work as the head of the Church. (Second Reading)
We remember Jesus' words yesterday, This is the work of God, that you believe in the one whom he sent. Today, God himself confirms the mission of Jesus as our Lord and Savior through the mystic voice in the cloud: This is my beloved Son...Listen to Him! The Father invites us all the more to listen to Jesus and take part in his saving work by sharing His Word and deeds to others, especially those who have not received him yet.
This is my beloved Son...Listen to Him! His Word brings life; it defends the Sanctity of life; it leads us to the fullness of life. We face a lot of problems nowadays yet we listen to people who are frail, who could not give us the right answer. Friends, the Father himself provides us with an answer today: JESUS! We neglect him, compromise his teachings, even exchange it for not-so-holy philosophies, but with the Lord we need not find anything else.
In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus continues to transfigures himself as the Food of Life. He never fails to give us himself every time we partake of him in Holy Communion. Unworthy as we are, he still provides us with the strength to continue the fight. We listen to him as he enters our bodies, he cleanses our thoughts and makes us one with him.
We now ask ourselves, Do I listen to God's will manifest in Jesus Christ? Do I let him transfigure my life by welcoming his will? Do I follow his precepts or go with the flow of the people who do not recognize him anymore?
As we celebrate the Feast of Jesus' Transfiguration, we are invited to listen with haste to God's Word and live it in our everyday encounter with others. Damned are those who do not listen to him nor accept him as their Lord and Savior, but blessed are those who incline their ears to His Word and lead others to him. Through His grace, our lives are truly transfigured, and changed into the image of Jesus. The Lord indeed uses us as instruments of His Love and Life for all. With Peter, we can really say, Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
No comments:
Post a Comment