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1. Dn7:9-10.13-14
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2.2Pt1:16-19
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Gospel:
Mk9:2-10
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No suffering no
glory
I am very sure that
each one of us is familiar with this expression: ' No pain, no gain; ' no
thorn, no crown;' no suffering, no glory;' and etc.
Dear brothers and
sisters today we are celebrating the Feast of the transfiguration. The word
transfiguration is derived from the Latin word transfigurare and for the
Greek word metamorphosis which means " change of form and appearance.
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to the high mount Tabor in order that he
could reveal them the glory of his
destiny. It is the glory that belongs to Him as God's beloved Son. In other
words, Transfiguration is the foretaste of heaven.
In this scenario, Moses
and Elias are seen talking to Jesus about His death which He is to suffer in
Jerusalem. This is seen by the three apostles. The three are wondrously
delighted with this glorious vision and Saint Peter cries out to Christ: "
Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tents, one for Thee, one
for Moses, and one for Elias." Then they hear the voice of the Father who
says to them: " This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen
to Him." This invites us to understand that this was the moment whereby
Jesus realized His identity before his three disciples and to us all, that
Jesus is the true Messiah, the Son of the living God. This conversation of
Jesus with Elijah and Moses has shown us that Jesus is the fulfillment of the
law and prophets. His mission is not to destroy the ways in which the Father
has already revealed Himself but to bring this revelation to completion.
Another possible reason
for this revelation was that Jesus wanted to strengthen these three apostles
for the trials of faith that they would have to face and endure at Mt. Calvary
when Jesus would not be on Mt. Tabor( the mountain of the transfiguration), but
on Mt. Calvary( the mountain of the cross.
Let us understand that
God sometimes gives us moments of consolation and Joy. We want this never to end. But that is not our lot
here on earth. Before enjoying glory, we must first undergo suffering. But
these moments of consolation will help us to go on, to persevere in spite of
dryness and difficulties.
The transfiguration of
Jesus, as one priest said, invites to see many little transfiguration
experiences that we have of daily lives like: changes of nature, gradual
opening of a flower, the blooming of trees, transformation of people, the
growing of children, the cycle of birth and death, the realization that God is
there. Through the eyes of faith we realize that it is a continuous process of
seeing not the flower but the blooming, not the people but their talents not
the sun but its rising, not the miracle but God. Even every time that we are
gathering for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist we experience also a moment
of transfiguration where our Lord Jesus Christ is transfigured in our very own
eyes. The bread and the wine are transfigured and become His Body and Blood as
our spiritual food for communion and life in our journey towards eternal life.
I am sure that each one
of us has got experience of transfiguration in his/her own life. We have witnessed people transfigured, not in
terms of physical transformation but in terms of spiritual transformation. For
example there are people who had been drug addicts but after rehabilitation
they are people of good manners etc. Yes, even if we are not in Mt. Tabor,
transfiguration happens.
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Chapisha Maoni