Listen to My Beloved Son
Introduction: May you continue to respond to God’s call to
holiness and may that motivate you to live a life filled with faith, hope, and
compassion.
We are invited to experience the holiness of God. As we draw
ever closer to God, we sense how Jesus was energized by His relationship with
His Abba-Father and how that empowered Him to fulfill the mission on which He
was sent. Even though suffering and death were part of the mission, He lovingly
accepted it in order to reach out with compassion and draw others into a holy
relationship with His Abba. We are called to experience the holy presence of
the Lord Jesus and His Abba – in union with the Holy Spirit, and that should
energize us to live with the confidence to do God’s will, and with the hope of
sharing in the eternal life with God, and sharing the Good News with others.
With the call from God, there comes hope of a relationship.
In the First Reading, Abram received a call from God, and a relationship is
established between the LORD and Abram and all of his descendants (both blood
descendants and descendants by faith). The Responsorial Psalm urges us to trust
in the promises made by God. In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds those who
read his Letter to Timothy that the Lord Jesus offers us hope and a
relationship even during, or maybe especially during, our troubled times. In
the Gospel, Jesus’ invitation to His disciples to climb the mountain with Him
enables them to experience a foretaste of the divine promises and deepening of
their relationship with Jesus and His Abba-Father.
First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a: The call of Abram, the
father of the People of God.
Commentary: God
prepares a people, the family of Abraham, which will eventually issue in his
Messiah, Jesus. Here we have the first beginning. God calls Abram to leave his
country, his family, his comfort-zone, to go out into an unknown land and an
unknown future. Abram has no security beyond the simple promise of God that God
will bless him and his family, with a blessing so great that all nations will
recognise it and use the very name of ‘Abram’ as a blessing. In a fierce and
arid land, which offers no protection to strangers, he has no family, no
children to support him. He is to become a wanderer over the earth, not knowing
the goal of his wanderings. He does not ask for the credentials of this Voice
which calls him. He does not seem even to have any concept of God, and yet he
follows this call. Just so, the first disciples at the Lakeside will, without a
word or a question, follow God’s Son when he calls them. Abram’s trust in this
Voice is the model for all personal trust.
Responsorial Psalm 33:4-5. 18-19. 20, 22: May your
merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O LORD.
Our psalm response speaks of placing one’s trust in God, and
from that, one would receive the fruits of the promises that God has made. Our
hope must be in the fulfillment of divine promises – blessings, holiness,
relationship with God.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10: God calls and
enlightens us.
Commentary: This
reading is put before us by the Church as an encouragement to persevere in our
Lenten resolutions. In his earlier writings Paul had often seen his own
sufferings and those of other Christians as completing those of Christ. Not
that there was anything faulty about the sufferings of Christ, but the members
of Christ’s Body, the Church, must share in the destiny of the suffering
Christ. Now the recipients of the letter are called upon to share the
sufferings of Paul in prison, not to earn salvation but as a response to the
grace of salvation. The word ‘grace’ has been much misunderstood, as though
‘grace’ were an independent gift, a thing in itself. In fact the word is used
in the New Testament to express the love of God or of Christ, particularly the
burning human love of Christ. Primarily it is a loving divine or human
relationship. When Mary is addressed as ‘engraced’ or ‘full of grace’, it means
that she is the special recipient of God’s love, which in turn makes her more
lovable. So here the ‘grace granted to us in Christ Jesus’ is the loving way in
which God has regarded us from the beginning of time, though its fullness has
become visible only at the Appearing of Christ Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9: ‘His face shone like the sun.’
Commentary: The
Transfiguration was the moment when the disciples were shown the divinity of
Jesus on the Holy Mountain. The scene is reminiscent of Moses’ encounter with
God on Sinai, when his face, too, shone like the sun. Moses and Elijah are
present because they are the two Old Testament figures who experienced the
presence of God on the Holy Mountain. With his usual impetuous generosity Peter
attempts to ‘freeze’ the moment. The public declaration of Jesus as God’s Son
at the Baptism is repeated, but with the addition that Jesus is the authorized
divine teacher; Matthew is alert to the implications for the Church of the
presence of Christ as Teacher. The cloud is also a symbol of God’s presence, to
which the human response can only be to fall to the ground in fear and
reverence. The awesome moment of revelation cannot, however, last, and Jesus
brings his disciples back to the dire realities before them with the reminder
that his death must precede the revelation of his glory at the Resurrection.
Until they have experienced the limitless generosity of his death, and the
vindication by God of this love, they are not ready to spread the message of
Jesus.
Reflection: Are you prepared to see the glory of the Lord and
to share in his glory as well? God made a promise to Abraham that he would make
him a channel of great blessing not only to his own family and future
descendants but to all the families of the earth as well (Genesis 12:3)! The
condition for the fulfillment of this promise was simple and straightforward -
"Go from your family and country to the land that I will show you"
(Genesis 12:1). Abraham not only believed in God's promise, he promptly obeyed
and did as the Lord commanded him. God chose Abraham as his instrument of
blessing - that through him and his descendants would come the Messiah, the
Lord Jesus Christ who would reveal the glory and blessing of God's kingdom and
bring salvation for all who would call upon his name.
The Lord Jesus came to
fulfill all that Moses and the prophets spoke: The Lord Jesus is the
fulfillment of all the promises made to Abraham and to his spiritual
descendants. In all that Jesus did and said he sought to please his Father in
heaven and to bring him glory. Like Abraham, he was ready to part with anything
that might stand in the way of doing the will of God. He knew that the success
of his mission would depend on his willingness to embrace his Father's will no
matter what it might cost him personally.
Jesus on three occasions told his disciples that he would
undergo suffering and death on a cross to fulfill the mission the Father gave
him. As the time draws near for Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross, he
takes three of his beloved disciples to the top of a high mountain. Just as
Moses and Elijah were led to the mountain of God to discern their ultimate call
and mission, so Jesus now appears with Moses and Elijah on the highest mountain
overlooking the summit of the promised land. Matthew's Gospel tells us that
Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his
garments became white as light (Matthew 17:2).
Jesus reveals his glory to
the apostles and to us: Why did Jesus appear in dazzling light with
Moses and Elijah? The book of Exodus tells us that when Moses had met with God
on Mount Sinai the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God
(Exodus 34:29). Paul the Apostle wrote that the Israelites could not look at
Moses' face because of its brightness (2 Corinthians 3:7). After Elijah, the
greatest of the prophets, had destroyed all the priests and idols of Baal in
the land, he took refuge on the mountain of God at Sinai. There God showed
Elijah his glory in great thunder, whirlwind, and fire, and then spoke with him
in a still quiet voice. God questioned Elijah, "What are you doing
here?" And then directed him to go and fulfill the mission given him by
God. Jesus, likewise, appears in glory with Moses and Elijah, as if to confirm
with them that he, too, is ready to fulfill the mission which the Father has
sent him to accomplish.
Jesus went to the mountain knowing full well what awaited
him in Jerusalem - betrayal, rejection, and crucifixion. Jesus very likely
discussed this momentous decision to go to the cross with Moses and Elijah. God
the Father also spoke with Jesus and gave his approval: This is my beloved Son;
listen to him. The Father glorified his son because he was faithful and willing
to obey him in everything. The cloud which overshadowed Jesus and his apostles
fulfilled the dream of the Jews that when the Messiah came the cloud of God's
presence would fill the temple again (see Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 33:9; 1 Kings
8:10; 2 Maccabees 2:8).
Christ's way to glory: The
Lord Jesus not only wants us to see his glory - he wants to share this glory
with us. And Jesus shows us the way to the Father's glory - follow me - obey my
words. Take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessing of
my Father's kingdom - your name, too, will be written in heaven. Jesus
fulfilled his mission on Calvary where he died for our sins so that Paradise
and everlasting life would be restored to us. He embraced the cross to win a
crown of glory - a crown that awaits each one of us, if we, too, will follow in
his footsteps.
Origen (185-254 AD), a noted
early church bible scholar and teacher, explains the significance of Jesus'
transfiguration for our own lives: "Do you wish to see the
transfiguration of Jesus? Behold with me the Jesus of the Gospels. Let him be
simply apprehended. There he is beheld both "according to the flesh"
and at the same time in his true divinity. He is beheld in the form of God
according to our capacity for knowledge. This is how he was beheld by those who
went up upon the lofty mountain to be apart with him. Meanwhile those who do
not go up the mountain can still behold his works and hear his words, which are
uplifting. It is before those who go up that Jesus is transfigured, and not to
those below. When he is transfigured, his face shines as the sun, that he may
be manifested to the children of light, who have put off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light. They are no longer the children of darkness or
night but have become the children of day. They walk honestly as in the day.
Being manifested, he will shine to them not simply as the sun but as he is
demonstrated to be, the sun of righteousness." (Commentary on Matthew)
Luke's Gospel tells us that while Jesus was transfigured,
Peter, James, and John were asleep (Luke 9:32)! Upon awakening they discovered
Jesus in glory along with Moses and Elijah. How much do we miss of God's glory
and action because we are asleep spiritually? There are many things which can
keep our minds asleep to the things of God: Mental lethargy and the
"unexamined life" can keep us from thinking things through and facing
our doubts and questions. The life of ease can also hinder us from considering
the challenging or disturbing demands of Christ. Prejudice can make us blind to
something new the Lord may have for us. Even sorrow can be a block until we can
see past it to the glory of God.
We are partakers of his glory:
Are you spiritually awake? Peter, James, and John were privileged
witnesses of the glory of Christ. We, too, as disciples of Jesus Christ are
called to be witnesses of his glory. We all, with unveiled face, beholding the
glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory
to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians
3:18). The Lord wants to reveal his glory to us, his beloved disciples. Do you
seek his presence with faith and reverence?
Lord Jesus, keep me always alert to you, to your word, your
action, and your constant presence in my life. Let me see your glory.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: Listen to Him, by
Leo the Great, 400?-461 A.D.
"A voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. I am manifested through his
preaching. I am glorified through his humility. So listen to him without
hesitation. He is the truth and the life. He is my strength and wisdom.
"Listen to him" whom the mysteries of the law foreshadowed, of whom
the mouths of the prophets sang. "Listen to him" who by his blood
redeemed the world, who binds the devil and seizes his vessels, who breaks the
debt of sin and the bondage of iniquity. "Listen to him" who opens
the way to heaven and by the pain of the cross prepares for you the steps of
ascent into his kingdom." (excerpt from Sermon 38,7)
listening to love: “This
is My beloved Son on Whom My favor rests. Listen to Him.” —Matthew 17:5
The Lord in His love is saying something to you. The Lord’s
words are “spirit and life” (Jn 6:63). What He is saying is life-giving,
life-saving, and full of love. What He is saying is also “over your head,” as
high as the heavens are above the earth (see Is 55:9). His Word is not beyond
our intellect as much as beyond our love. He loves us much more than we love
ourselves and infinitely more than we love others and are loved by others (see
Rm 5:8).
Because of His love for us, the Lord says things to us which
seem outrageous. For example, He told
the seventy-five-year-old Abram to leave his homeland and go off “not knowing
where he was going” (Heb 11:8; see also Gn 12:1-4). Through St. Paul, the Lord
told a hurting St. Timothy to bear his “share of the hardship which the gospel
entails” (2 Tm 1:8). It was hard for Timothy and Abram to hear such things.
Likewise, it will be hard for us.
The Lord in His love is saying something to you. It’s
probably about the cross. Will you
listen in love this Lent?
Prayer: Father, I
will listen to Your whispers and Your shouts. “God has saved us and has called
us to a holy life, not because of any merit of ours but according to His own
design — the grace held out to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” —2
Tm 1:9. Praise Jesus, Who “has robbed death of its power and has brought life
and immortality into clear light through the gospel” (2 Tm 1:10).
The personal action for
today: When have I experienced
the call of God? What has encouraged me to respond to God’s call? Which of the
ten points of Near Death Experiences have I sensed in my life? How have those
points affected my way of life? To whom do I feel called to serve as a result
of my call from the Lord?
Saint David of Wales: David is the patron saint of Wales and perhaps
the most famous of British saints. Ironically, we have little reliable
information about him.
It is known that he became a priest, engaged in missionary
work, and founded many monasteries, including his principal abbey in
southwestern Wales. Many stories and legends sprang up about David and his
Welsh monks. Their austerity was extreme. They worked in silence without the
help of animals to till the soil. Their food was limited to bread, vegetables
and water.
In about the year 550, Saint David of Wales attended a synod
where his eloquence impressed his fellow monks to such a degree that he was
elected primate of the region. The episcopal see was moved to Mynyw, where he
had his monastery, now called St. David’s. He ruled his diocese until he had
reached a very old age. His last words to his monks and subjects were: “Be
joyful, brothers and sisters. Keep your faith, and do the little things that
you have seen and heard with me.”
Saint David is pictured standing on a mound with a dove on
his shoulder. The legend is that once while he was preaching a dove descended
to his shoulder and the earth rose to lift him high above the people so that he
could be heard. Over 50 churches in South Wales were dedicated to him in
pre-Reformation days.
Were we restricted to hard manual labor and a diet of bread,
vegetables and water, most of us would find little reason to rejoice. Yet joy
is what David urged on his brothers as he lay dying. Perhaps he could say that
to them—and to us—because he lived in and nurtured a constant awareness of
God’s nearness. For, as someone once said, “Joy is the infallible sign of God’s
presence.” May his intercession bless us with the same awareness!