February 28, 2010
Gn 15:5-12, 17-18/
Phil 3:17-4:1 or 3:20-4:1/
Lk 9:28b-36
If you were old enough in 2001 to understand the events of 9/11, you probably remember where you were when you heard about them. Some of us have the a similar recollection of the challenger explosion And some of us remember president Kennedy’s assassination.
News that huge-news that changes our world-cracks open our awareness and does something to our perceptions. We see more, and we see more clearly than usual. Life may seem bigger or seem to be in slow motion, but at the same time what we experience is very real.
It’s not “beyond” our awareness. It’s deeper awareness-something that puts our existence in a certain place at a certain time under a magnifying glass.
Consider what happened to the disciples of Jesus when he was transfigured before their eyes.
He picked the friends he was closest to.
Something deep and intimate is at stake here for Peter, John, and James. Moses and Elijah, two of the greatest prophets and the foundations of Israel’s faith and practice and its deepest hopes, were drawn into their vision.
God’s own voice says to all of them, this is the chosen one-my son. Listen.
This is a pivotal point in the disciple lives.
It draws everything together: their insights into Christ teaching and their realization of Who Christ is.
Later, Paul remains the Philippians that Christ’s disciples will be transformed too.
There’s more to come from the transfiguration.
The disciple don’t speak about what they have seen until they experience something more-Christ risen body and empty tomb. On this strange day, God opens the disciples’eyes about Jesus Christ.
We get first look-at God’s answer to death.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: If Christ is transfigured, cannot we be transfigured in some way? Yes, both Actual and Sanctifying. These can make us more and more pleasing to God. After the Last Judgment we will enjoy our eternal change with Christ.