Listen To Him

 

 Mark 9: 2-13

The Transfiguration

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

The Church presents us with the Transfiguration just before we begin Lent this coming Wednesday, to remind us that there is another side to Jesus and the Christian Life besides suffering. Jesus is Divine, Chosen One, the Son of God.  We are called to believe in him to listen to him  and to serve him. No matter how ugly human behavior has become (as daily news broadcasts attest), there is ONE who is above all that, he has conquered it and shares his victory with all who give their lives to him. We too can be transfigured and can help Jesus transfigure the ugliness into beauty.  Our Lenten journey, with its attention to prayer and sacrifice can transform us, and in turn, we can help others in the process of transforming themselves.  Let us absorb the lesson of Tabor and bring it from the mountain top to the valley of everyday life.

Bro. Rene

God of wisdom and truth, make yourself known to us and to all people, as the one God, living and true. Affirm your truth in our lives that we may be witnesses of your unchanging presence and shine with your glory. May the life and teachings of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, be our salvation and guide. Amen.

 Rev. Brad Metz, C.S.C.