Sharing in His Transfiguration
Sunday Readings for Mar. 20, 2011 (2LentA)
By Father Cusick
Sunday Mass Readings Podcast of Readings Video Reflections Lecturas y Comentarios Sunday Readings Bible StudyPrayer of the HoursBQ: Do you believe Jesus is Truly Present at Communion? Christ "was transfigured before their eyes. His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes as radiant as light."
Last Sunday in our Gospel we heard that our Lord's sharing in our flesh meant that he suffered temptation. As God he does not share our sin, for sin cannot coexist with his holiness, but he shares with us every other reality of our earthly existence. He does this in order to transform us, as a share in his Transfiguration, of which we read in today's Gospel. Our Lord's divine nature is now our gift, so that our human nature can be raised up, glorified, changed completely by his holiness. The marvelous reality of our Christian life is that we share more and more in Christ's glory until, one day, we see Him face to face.
The Transfiguration is also a strengthening, a source of hope in time of trial.
From the day Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Master 'began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...and be killed, and on the third day be raised.'(Mt 16:21) Peter scorns this prediction, nor do the others understand it any better than he.(Mt 16:22-23) In this context the mysterious episode of Jesus' Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain, (Mt 17:1-8) before three witnesses chosen by himself: Peter, James and John. Jesus' face and clothes become dazzling with light, and Moses and Elijah appear, speaking 'of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.' (Lk 9:31)" (CCC 554) "For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to 'enter into his glory.'(Lk 24:26) (CCC 555)
In this season of Lent, let us put off all those things which are not of Christ, so that we may more and more put on His glory and share in God's own peace and joy. Let us approach the Sunday liturgy, sacramental Confession and all of the good things our Lord has given us, not as obligations or empty duties to fulfill, but as invitations to share in the gift of His love and life which never end.
Let us pray for one another until, again next week, we "meet Christ in the liturgy"---Father Cusick
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