Sunday
12 March 2017, 2nd Sunday LENT /
• Genesis 12:1-4a • Psalm 33 • 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 • Matthew 17:1-9•
[__01__] In the Gospel this Sunday, we read about the
three disciples Jesus – Peter, James, John – and their climb with Jesus up the
mountain, the mountain of the Transfiguration.
On this mountain, they see a vision of
Jesus transfigured. Jesus appears in “dazzling white”.
What is the reason for this vision,
this appearance?
[__02__] I
would like to suggest an analogy, an example.
How many of us – if not all of us –
have photographs, photos of our parents and spouses, children and grandchildren?
And, in a photograph, we often try to
capture the best possible view or angle of the person or the couple or the
family in the frame.
In some cases, great pains were taken
– perhaps with a professional photographer or with your Dad or uncle who needs
to be taught how to OPEN THE CAMERA APP…and then PRESS THE SHUTTER BUTTON. I have
no idea what these instructions are, I copied the sentence from the Apple
website.
Photos require effort and lighting
and, sometimes, the cost of an expert.
We keep these photos not only on our
desk or wall but also on computers, on our phones. We can have them within
reach to remind ourselves of important moments and people. We can also show the
photos to others.
[__03__] Well, in the Gospel of the Transfiguration, at
a higher altitude above sea level and after the great effort of climbing up the
mountain, Peter, James and John are receiving an image that is stored for them.
It is in the CLOUD.
Not the Microsoft Cloud but the actual
physical CLOUD of this high-altitude appearance of Jesus, our teacher and
savior, in dazzling white.
[__04__] This image is a gift and consolation to Peter,
James, and John in a similar way that our photos and images are.
That is, Jesus appears in visible
GLORY and MAJESTY … and in the best possible angle and view … as a
counterbalance to the obvious HUMILITIATON and SUFFERING. On Good Friday, in the Passion, Jesus will be
at worst possible angle, not on a mountain, but falling three times to the
ground.
This image of Jesus, with the prophets
Moses and Elijah, remind them to trust in God’s power and mercy in the days
after Jesus’s Passion and Death. This image – on the mountain – is burned into
their memory and hard drive for the future of Good Friday.
They see this image now, so as to
persevere in the hope that he shall rise from the dead also that he will help
us all to conquer sin and death, not in a cloud but in the path and earth we
walk in the way of the cross.
[__05__] The Transfiguration is a photo opportunity for
Peter, James, and John.
It is a photo that they are called to
save, remember that the greatness of Jesus is not defeated by a moment of
suffering, or rejection or persecution.
Do we not call retain our own photos –
taken at the right angle and lighting – for the same purpose?
We also retain these photos to
remember the very origin and beauty of our children, our spouses, our parents
…when we were younger.
We even retain and show off ULTRASOUND
images to show the gift of life and action in its earliest stage, even before
our child is born.
Yes, it is true that our feelings of
affection or energy may change, but do we not draw strength by considering the
original and initial connections we have to one another.
These photos are retained to remind us
also of what has not NOT changed, and of the perseverance of love and
affection.
The love that will also transfigure
you and me, in our journey to eternal life. [__fin__]
No comments:
Post a Comment