Homily Feast of the Transfiguration (Matthew17:1-9)
Homily Feast of the Transfiguration (Matthew17:1-9)
The Transfiguration is an event in the life of Jesus that leads to a lot of questions. Why did Jesus choose to reveal his glorified self to his disciples? Why did he choose this moment in his ministry to do so such a thing? Why did he have only three disciples on the mountain with him and not more? Did he allow his friends to have this mystical experience to strengthen for the scandal of the cross?
Another question that is often asked is why did Moses and Elijah appear? I have recently read a reflection on this and the writer had some interesting thoughts. The idea that was put forth by Romano Guardini was that Moses, Elijah and Jesus all had something in common which was there was a resistance to the messages they proclaimed.
If we think of Moses, we think of the fact that he led the people of Israel out of slavery through the desert into the promised land. At each stage of the journey the chosen people of Israel complained and whined. They were a difficult stiff-necked people. Moses was disgusted with them at times and God was as well. Moses had to be an advocate for the people on several occasions so that God did not give up on the people he had made his own.
Elijah preached a message of repentance. He tried to get the people to give up the worship of false gods and return to the one true God. He defeated the prophets of Baal in a show of strength. He called down fire from heaven, but even after this awesome display he had to run for his life.
Jesus’ Transfiguration was a foreshadowing of the triumph of the resurrection, but it also was a reminder that there would be a lot of struggle before there would be success. Being a prophet of the Lord is not for the faint of heart. Jesus would be true to his calling, but there would be a price to pay.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is the Transfiguration event something that reassures me that Jesus is divine? Is this one of Jesus’ greatest miracles?
2. Why do I think Jesus wanted to keep this revelation a secret? If he would have had many witnesses at his Transfiguration would Jesus have had an easier time in his ministry?
Dear Parishioners,
The Feast of the Transfiguration falls on the same day as the anniversary of dropping of the first Nuclear bomb in Hiroshima. About 80,000 people were killed immediately. It seems ironic that this anniversary falls on the same day as a great Christian religious feast.
Once the first atomic bomb was dropped the history of the world was changed dramatically. For the first time, it was thought, humanity could destroy the world. Human beings have lived in the shadow of nuclear annihilation ever since.
But Jesus showed on Mt. Tabor that his power transcended any human power. His power is not a power equated with destruction, but his power is a power that is equated with redemption.
We enter the third Friday of our Novena to the Sacred Heart tomorrow. Sacred Heart parishioners are invited to pray and fast and abstain from meat. We remember all those who suffer from social sin and every other evil and we ask for Jesus to intercede for us.
We know have lost 160,000 Americans to COVID 19. This is twice the number of people who died at Hiroshima. Are we indifferent to the death and sickness? Hopefully, our penance on the Fridays of our Sacred Heart Novena reminds us that the love of Christ conquers all things even death itself.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark