Sunday Gospel Reflection
"This is my beloved Son; listen to him"
Introduction:
Have you ever stopped to wonder, "What makes the holy, holy?" What is it that makes a person holy? Is it some inner goodness or merit they achieved? Most godly people would be appalled by this suggestion; rather, they are unusually conscious of their own unworthiness. And this sense of unworthiness is only offset by an unusual consciousness of being a recipient of God's mercy and grace.
A story is told of a young girl, who when visiting a great cathedral, saw the figures depicted in the beautiful stained glass windows. It was explained to her that these were the "saints" of the Church. Later, when asked by someone, "What is a saint?" she answered, "A saint is someone who lets the light shine through."
Isn't that really what makes us holy, the extent to which we allow Jesus, "The Light," to shine through us? We are set apart and made spiritually beautiful, or holy, not because we reflect our own merit but because we reflect His merit. Pope John XXIII, in the biography The Journey of a Soul, uses two wonderful expressions to capture this same thought. The first is from St. Augustine: "When you crown our merit, you are crowning your own gifts." The second is his own thought on this concept: "My merit, Your mercy." Both men understood that the goodness and essence of their spirituality was simply, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27.)
This week's Gospel reading relates the story of Jesus and his three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. For a few short minutes these disciples visually saw that of which John the Baptist testified, the holiness of Jesus the Lamb of God. John the Baptist said, "among you stands one whom you do not know, even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." This holy light which transfigured Jesus' face and caused it to shine like the sun, was just a glimpse of his glory and holiness. This glory and holiness of Jesus Christ is the source of mercy of which Pope John XXIII spoke.
As we proceed through these days of Lent, and reflect on our spiritual condition, and perhaps the disarray of our relationship with Christ, it is easy to see ourselves as unholy. Often when we perceive our spiritual shortcomings we try to compensate and offset our shortcomings by renewed spiritual vigor and devout promises in an attempt to feel better about ourselves. When we respond this way we are getting the cart before the horse. The place of change and spiritual transformation begins with the recognition that we are holy, in spite of our sins, because the holiness of Jesus has been applied to our lives. God sees us as righteous through the righteousness of his Son. Pope John Paul II says in Mission of the Redeemer, "we must first clearly affirm our faith in Christ, the one Savior of humanity, a faith we have received as a gift from on high, not as a result of any merit of our own. We say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith" (Rom 1:16). ..." When we are able by faith to grasp that concept we respond back to God in love, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14, "the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." With this understanding our resolve to live with renewed spiritual vigor comes not from a desire to offset our previous sins, but out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.
That which makes the holy, holy, is simply the presence of Jesus, the "Light of the World," dwelling within us. His merit, His gifts shining through us, transforms our behavior.
First Reading
Genesis 12:1-4
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your
kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all
the families of the earth shall bless themselves."
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five
years old when he departed from Haran.
Second Reading
2 Timothy 1:8-10
8 Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God,
9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in
virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago,
10 and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished
death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 17:1-9
1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led
them up a high mountain by themselves.
2 And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became
white as light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord,is good that we are here. If you wish, I
will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from
the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well
pleased; listen to him."
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid."
8 And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the
vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Bible Study
1 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
----Peter, James and John are the inner circle of the apostles. They were
also chosen to be separate from the rest of the twelve in the garden of Gethsemane
(Matthew 26:37) and at the raising of Jarius' daughter (Mark 5:37).
1b and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
---A mountain symbolic of revelation, a kind of Galilean Sinai; God spoke to
Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:12-18) and Elijah at the same place (1 Kings 19:8-18). No
localization is necessary although Carmel, Tabor, and Hermon have been suggested.
2 And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and
his clothes became white as light.
----The brightness of the illumination recalls the brightness of the face of Moses
after the Sinai revelation (Exodus 34:29-35), which made it necessary for Moses to veil
his face.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.
----Moses and Elijah represent respectively the Law and the Prophets. The term
"the Law and the Prophets" was used to designate the entire collection of Old
Testament books, and thus the fullness of the revelation of God to Israel. Jesus joins the
two as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 5:17). Elijah was assumed
bodily into heaven (2 Kings 2:11) and Hebrew legend has it that Moses was also assumed.
This may explain how both can appear here in bodily form. Neither Matthew or Mark tell us
what was discussed, but Luke 9:31 says "They spoke about his departure (exodus),
which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem."
4 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord,
----Matthew uses the word "Lord", while Mark uses "rabbi"
as the form of address. "Lord" literally means "my great one", an
address of respect to God, angels, and earthly sovereigns.
4b is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
---Peter is a master of understatement. No doubt he is making a reference to
the feast of tabernacles, one of three yearly feasts for which all males of Israel were
required to travel to the Temple and lived in tents (or booths). The feast occurred in
September-October and lasted for eight days. The three Apostles want to stick around for a
while. The feast of tabernacles commemorated the sojourn of the Israelites on Mount Sinai
while they received the revelation of the Law through Moses. This is not the revelation of
another law, a greater reality is manifested here. Jesus fulfills the Law and the
Prophets.
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over
them,
----This is the shechinah (glory cloud), the divine presence, the cloud that
occupied the tabernacle in the time of Moses.
5b then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved
Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."
----These words are a revelation of the sonship of Jesus; Matthew repeats the
words spoken at the baptism (Matthew 3:17) and adds "listen to him" (sort of
like Mary's "do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). Jesus is the Son and the
revealer. The Israelites are commanded to listen to a prophet like Moses whom God will
raise up for them in Deuteronomy 18:15.
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much
afraid.
----This is their reaction to the divine command (listen to him) rather than to the
vision itself.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be
afraid."
----Jesus' touch overcomes their fear and perhaps consecrates them to further
service. Luke's account of the transfiguration suggests the disciples were asleep and this
is a dream-vision.
8 And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but
Jesus alone.
----Moses and Elijah have withdrawn; diminished in significance before the fuller
revelation in Jesus.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Meditation
Are you prepared to see God's glory? God is eager to share his glory
with us! We get a glimpse of this when the disciples see Jesus transfigured in glory
on the mountain. Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain is celebrated in the Eastern
and Western churches on August 6. Mark's account tells us that Jesus' garments
became glistening, intensely white. When Moses met with God on Mount Sinai the skin
of his face shone because he had been talking with God (see Exodus 34:29). Paul says
that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness (2 Cor. 3:7).
In this incident Jesus appeared in glory with Moses, the great lawgiver of Israel, and
with Elijah, the greatest of the prophets, in the presence of three of his beloved
apostles. What is the significance of this mysterious appearance? Jesus went to the
mountain knowing full well what awaited him in Jerusalem - his betrayal, rejection and
crucifixion. Jesus very likely discussed this momentous decision to go to the cross
with Moses and Elijah. God the Father also spoke with Jesus and gave his approval:
This is my beloved Son; listen to him.
The cloud which overshadowed Jesus and his apostles fulfilled the dream of the Jews that
when the Messiah came the cloud of God's presence would fill the temple again (see Exodus
16:10, 19:9, 33:9; 1 Kings 8:10; 2 Maccabees 2:8).
Peter, James, and John were privileged witnesses of the glory of Christ. We, too, as disciples of Christ are called to be witnesses of his glory. We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). The Lord wants to reveal his glory to us, his beloved disciples. Do you seek his presence with faith and reverence?
Reflections:
· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you.
· After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led
them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone
like the sun and his clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17:1-2)
----What are the messages of this transfiguration experience, and what are their
meaning?
· Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord,is good that we are
here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for
Elijah." (Matthew 17:4)
----How do you think you would have responded in this situation if you were there
with the disciples?
· While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Matthew 17:5)
----To what extent do you believe that Jesus is calling you to
come apart from your busy activities to behold him?
----In this explanation of our calling, which actions are God's, and which actions
are ours?
· But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." (Matthew 17:7)
----Have you ever experienced the affirming Jesus? How does that
feel
----How can you hold on to that affirmation, so that you can have enough trust in
God to go through the crucifixion with Christ?
To Live His Word This Week
· Donate some of your clothes and/or other possessions to charity in
helping the poor
· Attend daily mass during this Lenten season
For Youngters
· Do not say a bad word when talking with your friends at church or at
school.
· Skip your favorite television show for one week.
Prayer
Lord, draw me near to you and let me see your glory.
May I never doubt your love and saving help.