Homily- Thursday, August 6th,
18th Week Year a, Feast of Transfiguration
v Daniel
7:9-10, 13-14
v 2
Peter 1:16-19
v Ps
97:1-2,5-6,9
v Matthew
17:1-9(Yr.A); Mark 9:2-10(Yr.B) and Luke 9:28b-36 (Yr.C)
Relying on the Salvific- Universal and Transforming
Power of Christ!
Today we
celebrate the feast of the transfiguration of Christ on the mountain(Tabor) before his
disciples, Peter, James and John. It is a feast that has always been celebrated
in the Western Church, since the 11th Century. The setting involves
visions. And as narrated in the
scripture many significant things happened in a vision, which was one of the
means, and vehicles through which the God of Israel communicated with his
people through the prophets. We have seen this not only in the visions of Amos,
and Ezekiel, Zechariah, and of Paul on his way to Damascus (Acts 9). Or, even
of the angel Gabriel speaking to Joseph and Mary etc. That, God communicated to his people through
a vision (chazon) was not new.
In today’s Gospel of Matthew, and in a vision,
Christ’s face figuratively shone like the sun, his cloth became white, and
ancient, and Israel’s important prophets, Moses and Elijah appeared to Peter,
James and John. The whole, transforming and divine episode was so peaceful that
Peter suggested to the Lord, that three tents, houses be built permanently there
on the mountain, One for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Christs.
There were
important messages or images that the Lord communicated not only to his ancient
disciples but, in fact, to us today, as well. The beauty of the sunlight, the
white cloths, the peaceful breeze on this mountain top, as heard in the Gospel (Matthew
17:1-9) symbolize not only Christ’s sufferings in Jerusalem, but the joy of his
resurrection, and ascension into heaven; the beatific vision, the peace, and
the glory of heaven that awaits the disciples; that awaits each of us, who preserve
in this life to the end. It’s a reminder that we do not need to be afraid as
those who have no faith, even of this corona-virus. That was why, Christ
actually, touched the disciples with his hands and words, saying “Rise, do not
be afraid.” No matter what, God has a way of saving his people; freeing his
people, restoring life back to his people, speaking to us through his Son,
Jesus Christ, to whom we must listen!
Similar vision
of hope and beauty and joy of transformation from darkness (hoshek= bad
things, misfortunes, no electricity like in some corrupt- African communities,) to light (‘or= good things, good fortunes, electricity, clean drinking water, security, and good roads etc) from
despair to hope, from exile to freedom is heard in the vision of Daniel of the
first reading, addressed originally to those who were oppressed for many years
in exile! In his vision, Daniel, saw thrones being set up and the ancient one,
God, took his throne. He “saw one like the Son of man coming on the clouds of
heavens” as was the case in the gospel. As the vision continues, the “the one
like the Son of man received dominion, glory and kinship from the ancient one,
and all peoples and, nations and languages serve him. What a transforming joy
of freedom, light, peace, and security that we all find in the universal
salvific of Christ. Like yesterday, in the Gospel, he healed that foreigner,
that Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28.
He is equally
the one, the beloved Son of God, the saving voice, the lamp shining in the dark, that Peter, the
foremost Apostles( perhaps witness the events), or his disciples, spoke of in
today’s 2nd reading ( 2 Pet 1:16-19).
As we go
through our daily struggles or challenges, especially of this covid-19, and of
the mysteries of our Christian faith, especially of this events of the
transfiguration, we pray for God’s transforming effect and graces upon our
troubled and afflicted world; as well as the grace to hold onto our faith, relying,
trusting Christ, and the listening grace to the voice of the Beloved Son of God
with hope and joy.
Reflection
Questions:
1. How often do we,
like Daniel, listen attentively to the universal and salvific voice of the Son
of God?
2. In our daily
challenges do we hear him say to us “Rise up do not be afraid?”
3. In what
practical ways have we assisted in socially, culturally, religiously and
politically transforming our communities from “darkness” to “light”, from “despair”
to “hope.”?
