Tuesday, August 05, 2014

 

Wednesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

August 6, 2014
Wednesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time
[Feast, Transfiguration Of The Lord]

Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14 / Ps 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9 / Ps 97: 1-2,5-6,9 / 2Pt 1: 16-19 / Mt 17: 1-9

Reading: Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14
I looked and saw the following: Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took his seat. His robe was white as snow, his hair white as washed wool. His throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire. A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before him. Thousands upon thousands served him and a countless multitude stood before him. Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book. I continued watching the nocturnal vision: One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven. He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence. Dominion, honor and kingship were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him. His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed.   

Gospel Matthew 17: 1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. Jesus' appearance was changed before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became bright as light. Just then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Peter spoke and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. If you so wish, I will make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Peter was still speaking when a bright cloud covered them in its shadow, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him." On hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground, full of fear. But Jesus came, touched them and said, "Stand up, do not be afraid." When they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus. And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had just seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

Reflection:
     The Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor is not just an isolated event. What is the significance of the presence of both Moses and Elijah, two important personalities of the Old Testament?  Both figures received God's revelation on Mt Sinai. Moses represents the Law while Elijah, the prophets. In the Transfiguration event, the Father's voice confirmed Jesus as the Son who brings to perfect fulfillment both the Law and the Prophets. This spectacle brought the disciples to their knees and they desired to remain and bask in this glory. But Christ forbade them to speak about this vision. The Transfiguration is a foreshadowing of Jesus' resurrection. Jesus must have allowed his apostles to experience the Transfiguration to imprint in their memory this glorious event to keep their faith in him strong because his time to suffer and die shamefully would happen soon. He told them "the Son of Man will be raised from the dead." He wanted them not to forget.  But forget they did. Peter followed him when he was being brought to the authorities. But what did Peter do?  He denied being one of his followers.  Not one of the apostles, except John, was present when Jesus died on the cross.  They were afraid to be made to suffer, too. They forgot the transfiguration event.  Are we not like the disciples whose memory is short?   
     Pope Benedict XVI's said that "suffering is central to the Christian mission. It is an integral part of the Christian faith as a whole." The cross of Christ will be the demon's ruin," said Pope Benedict, "and this is why Jesus does not cease to teach his disciples that in order to enter into his glory he must suffer much, be rejected, condemned and crucified.  Suffering is an integral part of his mission."  The Pope sums up his teaching saying that " Good and evil reside in the world  and suffering indicates the conflict of the two. " In the words of Saint Augustine, "evil is the lack of goodness where goodness ought to be."  Jesus cast out demons by scolding them because Satan is perplexed at Jesus' willingness to suffer for the sake of humanity. That is why when Peter did not want Jesus to suffer, he called him Satan.
     When we suffer from sickness, from loss of a loved one, or from failure, we are consoled by the fact that Jesus himself suffered. The cross is part of every Christian's life. It is an opportunity to be closer to Jesus.

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
... for world peace and reconciliation

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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