Readings: Heb. 11:1-7; Ps. 145; Mark: 9:2-13
Fr.
Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
ARE WE
REALLY LISTENING TO JESUS THE BELOVED SON OF GOD?
To know the true identity of Jesus has always
been the desire and quest of most people of his time and even in our time. Most
people today still do not really have a grand knowledge of the personality and
identify of who Jesus really is and his mission towards the salvation of
humanity. So to make known his identity to humanity, Jesus in our Gospel
passage today chose three of his disciples Peter, James and John and led them
up a high mountain where they could be alone.
There in their presence he was transfigured:
his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then
Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if
you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for
Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with
shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Beloved
Son listen to him.
Here, the disciples witness the change in
appearance of Jesus that reveals his true nature as the Divine Son of God,
shining forth from his human nature, unveiling that he was not just a Man, but
also the great Son of God incarnate in the human flesh. Hence, we embrace this
revelation of Christ as the beloved Son of the Father, the one we are called to
trust and listen to in prayer. An event that occur to undermine objections to
inevitable event of Parousia which calls us to a life of faith and radical
transformation. A transformation that brings about a new out fit that makes one
a new person with a new life, a new mind and a new way of doing things.
In this revelation we recall the presence of
the two greatest and most renowned figures from the Old Testament, namely Moses
and the prophet Elijah. They represent the law and the prophets which bear
witness to the personality and identity of Jesus and to crown all, the voice
from the cloud which has also been the symbol of God’s presence with His people
bearing witness that Jesus is the Beloved Son of God, calling us to listen to
him. By this revelation, Jesus revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses
and filled with the greatest splendour that bodily form which he shares with
all humanity, that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of
his disciples.
Dear friends, are we really listening to Jesus
the beloved Son of God? Are we in anyway ignorant of the personality, identity
and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have we personally experienced the
presence of Jesus in our lives? How often do we listen to him? Have we ever
encountered Jesus in such a transformative way that changes our sinful ways of
life and build our faith stronger in the Lord? The truth is, we can change our
religion, churches, even our pastors, friends, residence, car or our physical
appearance: hear, cloth, colour even gender as some people do today.
But if we don't have a transfigurative
experience that will bring about a change of mind and heart towards loving God
and our neighours, we will remain the same and the old experience of unfruitful
life will perpetuate itself over and over again. Because, everything absolutely
change when through faith in God, change our mind for good. Little wonder we
were told in our first reading that: only faith can guarantee the blessings
that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present
remain unseen. And it was for faith that our ancestors were commended.
LET US PRAY:
Lord God, we have often failed to listen to you, even though you never ceases
to make known to your children the mysteries of your Love for humanity, grant
that by listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may personally
experience his love in our lives and merit to become coheirs with him, who
lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.
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