Readings: Dan. 7:9-10.13-14, Ps.97. 2 Peter.1:16-19. Matt. 17:1-9
Rev.
Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
COME
AND EXPERIENCE THE LORD AT THE MOUNTAIN OF TRANSFIGURATION
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.
Today
we celebrate the event of this mystery and revelation as the Feast of
Transfiguration of the Lord. The word “Transfiguration” is the combination of
two words ‘trans’ meaning change, and ‘figure’ meaning appearance or the
outlook of a body. That is, 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,
in this Feast we remember the 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 the 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 to bear witness to the personality and
identity of Jesus and to crow 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.
Little
wonder St. Peter in our second reading today tells us that, it was not any
cleverly invented myths that they were repeating when they brought us the
knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; for they had
seen his majesty for themselves. Peter made us to know that Jesus was honoured
and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and
said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ He said they heard
this themselves, spoken from heaven, when they were with him on the holy
mountain.
This
event also fulfills the vision of Daniel in our first reading, where he said: I
saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one
of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his
servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass
away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed. And the preface of this feast says
that 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 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? 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? Today
God is calling and separating us from the things of this passing world in order
to have a personal encounter with him at the Mountain of Transfiguration just
like the three disciples Peter, James
and John.
For we
all have been called to journey with the Lord and to obey His will. Often time
when we are called to follow the Lord, the path may seem to be uncertain and
unknown to us, it may seem difficult and contrary to our own way of life. And the devil is always ready to distract us,
persuading and tempting us to remain in our old and ugly way of life and not to respond to the Lord’s calling.
Therefore,
we are called today to reexamine our
lives, how are we responding to God’s call? Calling us to mountain of
repentance and transfiguration. How are we able to discern carefully the will
of God in our lives? God has called us to change our ugly ways of life and
follow Him, in whatever directions that He wishes to lead us through. Are we
ready to follow him? Are we ready to let go of the excess desire for sinful
things of this passing world? Are we ready to sacrifice all for the sake of
following the Lord and experience his
glory and presence in our lives?
The
truth remains that, we can change our friends, our residence, our cars or our
physical appearance: hear, cloth and colour of our skin. We can change our
gender as some people do today, we can change even our church denomination, the
Masses we attend, our pious societies,
even our pastors or priests. But if we do not have a personal transfigurative
experience like the three disciples, that will bring about a change of mind and
heart towards loving God and neighbours, we will remain the same and the old
experience of unfruitful life will perpetuate itself over and over again.
Because, everything absolutely changes when we encounter and experience God personally in our lives and
change our mind and heart for good. For that change can only be propelled by a
strong personal experience of God in our lives just like Peter, James and John.
LET US
PRAY: Lord God, 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. Happy Sunday.
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