9-Mar-2014
Dear Friend,
Though we like novelty and want to see changes around us, yet basically we are
traditional and prefer to go on the way we always did. Yet, life is full of
changes. Sometimes we wish we would change but often we do not believe that we
can change. We give a lot of reasons why we cannot change and so we never
change. Lent is about transformations made possible by faith. May His Word
challenge and transform us. With His Spirit have a transfiguring Lent weekend!
–Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Second Sunday of Lent Called to be transformed ….
16-Mar-2014
Genesis 12: 1-4; 2 Timothy 1: 8-10; Matthew 17: 1-9;
In the first reading from the Book of Genesis we have the inspiring story of
the call of Abraham. At the age of seventy-five, when most aged people have
retired or are written off, Abraham sets out on a journey of faith, moving from
the familiar, secure and well-ordered routine in his native place to an unknown
destination, literally to ‘God knows where’! All he can rely on is the promise
of God. In obedience to God’s call he sets off. Abraham is blessed and in turn
becomes a blessing to his people. It is never too late to change, to respond to
God’s call.
Transformed by love
“Picture an old lamp covered with layers of dust and dirt. How wretched and
useless it looks. Then someone comes along, cleans off the layers of dirt, and
polishes it until it begins to sparkle, and then lights it. Suddenly the lamp
is transformed. It positively glows, radiating light and beauty to every corner
of the room. Whereas prior to this it was disfigured with dust and dirt, now it
is transfigured with beauty by the light. Yet, it is the same lamp. When an
object (or a person) is loved and cared for, it is redeemed, and rendered
brighter and worthier.”
Flor McCarthy in “New Sundays and Holy Day Liturgies”
Today’s gospel reminds us, first of all, that transformations take place in the
context of prayer. Jesus led his disciples up a high mountain, where they could
be alone. The mountain, in the Israelite tradition, symbolized the meeting
place with God. Moses had witnessed Yahweh on the mountain and each time he
encountered Him his face glowed with the presence of God. Jesus was
transfigured in their presence and ‘his face shone like the sun and his clothes
became as white as light.’ Secondly, Jesus appears transfigured in the context
of his relationship with his Father, symbolized by the presence of the cloud
and the heavenly voice. The cloud symbolized Yahweh, who in the form of a cloud
accompanied the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert to the Promise
Land. Thirdly, this transfiguration is not only a blessing and an affirmation
for Jesus, proclaimed by the voice from heaven, “This is my Son, the beloved;
He enjoys my favour. Listen to
him”, but it is also a blessing for the three disciples, who are witnesses of
the transfiguration. They have a privileged viewpoint on salvation history as
they witness Jesus in conversation with the father-figures of the Law and the
prophets, Moses and Elijah. This vision will reassure them when they hear
other voices later opposing Jesus, rejecting his mission, and seeking to
destroy him. The transfiguration would be only for a moment. But Peter wanted
to capture it and prolong it and make it permanent by building tents or
tabernacles to contain this experience. We too want the good experiences, the
peak moments of life to last forever. We are afraid to let go and move on, we
want to be in the past rather than move on to where the Lord wants us to go.
But the reality is that we have to come down from the mountain.” Our
transfiguration can happen in the strangest of ways when we let Jesus into our
lives.
Transfiguration
Van Gogh was not noted for his physical beauty. In fact his face was described
by some as being repulsive. Yet as soon as he began to speak about art, his
melancholy expression would disappear, his eyes would sparkle, and his features
would make a deep impression on those around him. It wasn’t his face any
longer; it had become beautiful. It seemed he was breathing in beauty. At
times all of us can feel down and depressed, a prey to feelings of failure and
worthlessness. But then suddenly something nice happens to us – a friend calls,
or we get a letter with some good news in it – and suddenly everything is
changed. The truth of course is that nothing has changed. It is just that a
spark of joy or hope or love has been kindled in our hearts, and we suddenly
see ourselves in a new and better light.
Flor McCarthy in ‘New Sunday Holy Day Liturgies’
Transfiguration –A change of attitudes?
Rabbi Abraham Twersky tells a story about his great-grandfather who was sitting
with other rabbinical scholars studying the Talmud when it was decided to take
a break for refreshments. One of the groups offered to pay for refreshments,
but there was no one who
