It is 28th February 2021.
The readings are from Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; the second reading is from Romans 8:31b-35, 37; and the Gospel from Mark 9:2-10.
We reflected last week on the temptation of Jesus and now today we reflect on transfiguration. The transfiguration is the moment of revealing the divinity and preparing the minds of the apostles to face the suffering in their life. No crosses, no crown; no suffering, no salvation; no pain, no inner power. Transfiguration is the beginning of our redemption. Jesus did not stay in the mount Tabor, but he was willing to reach mount of olives.
When we believe that we have a strong faith God, a storm breaks out from nowhere hits the shore of faith how do we feel?
A rich young man when he was a youth he used to pray, Lord, this world is evil and the people are selfish, so please Lord change the world around me. During his middle age, he prayed Lord, my wife, children, relatives, and colleagues are evil and selfish, so please change their heart. When he became so old, he realised that it was him who needed prayers and blessings to come out of the selfish desires. The change is painful, but it is personal indeed.
In the first reading, we encounter the father of faith, Arabs and Jews rewarded with a son Isaac. He was tested by God. “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” (Gen.22:2). God is asking for a holocaust. Abraham agrees without any protest, and argument, withholding the matter from his wife Sarah. He reaches the mountain and ready to sacrifice the son but stopped him not to kill his son. As Abraham did not disclose to his son that he was the victim so the Father to Jesus. Isaac prefigured in Jesus. Abraham experienced God
Is God so cruel? The episode brings out one truth that God is not pleased human sacrifice. God abolishes the custom in place of the region. The animal sacrifice is replaced with human and bread and wine are replaced the animal sacrifice later.
But in the second reading, St. Paul points out, “God did not spare his own Son.” Moriah is followed by Golgotha. Father is not the executioner but the Devil. The Father allowed Jesus to be born into human condition. Letting go is painful. The parents cannot take responsibility for the variety events that shape the lives of the children. They do not plan their pain but always suffer with them. The decision of Jesus to suffer on the Cross was the utmost expression of love.
We need to change ourselves to order to experience the transformation taking place in our society. Jesus transfigured in front of his disciples to obtain the approval of the Father for the inner change.
A teacher asked a girl whether she likes going to school. She replied that she likes going and coming to the school but not those moments, the classes in between them.
Most of us love Christmas and Easter, but many of us do not like what happening in between that is the passion, death and suffering of our Lord. The disciples did not like to hear about the suffering of Jesus. For many of us, suffering, pain, and sacrifices are the obstacles to life.
But we need to transfigure into Christ image. Our entire life is a gradual transfiguration in the divine nature of Christ. To remove the prejudices of the cross and suffering, Jesus transfigured.
The representative of the Law, Moses and the Prophets, Elijah witnessed Jesus as Messiah. In addition to that, the Father in Heaven applauds the Only Son, Jesus during this theophany. The glory of Christ will be revealed in His Cross. (Lk.24:26).
To become anew, one needs to change. Sandal wood smells when we powder it. Wheat bears its harvest by dying to itself, sugarcane to become sugar, it must be squeezed, milk to taste to be heated, and gold to shine to put in the fire. Unless we die to our arrogance, pride and selfishness and sinfulness, we cannot become transfigured.
We all need the experience of God in the mountain as well as the people.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transfigured into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor.3:18). To transfigure, we all need to sacrifice. The obedience of Abraham and Jesus was the sacrifice; by listening in prayer and solitude, we find solace and salvation. Transfiguration is the reassurance for Jesus and disciples.
We all received the white garment during our baptism. “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” (Rev.7:9). And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev.7:14). The blood of Jesus washes all of us clean from all evil. We all need to transfigure by our sacrifices, suffering and voluntary penance.
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1Jn. 3:2).
May the Lord help us all to transfigure after the image of Christ. Have a lovely day.