Mar. 17, 2019 [ 02 LENT]
• Genesis
15:5-12, 17-18 • Psalm 27 • Philippians 3:17-4:1 • + Luke 9:28b-36 •
Title: [Time-Out/Transfiguration ]
[_01_] This
second Sunday of Lent, we read the Gospel of the Transfiguration. Jesus on the
mountain with his disciples. And, I’d like to use an analogy, considering the
sport of basketball and how it is played and sometimes how basketball is
coached. This example does not just apply to basketball but all sports and more
generally to our lives.
[_02_] Phil
Jackson was a professional basketball player and later a coach who successfully
won championships with the Chicago Bulls (because he had Michael Jordan) and
also with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Phil Jackson was also well known –
notorious – for how he made use of a time-out in a game. You know, a time-out
is when a player or coach asks the referee to blow the whistle and stop the
play so that the teams can have a break and …perhaps, figure out how to recover
from some adversity…or if they are winning how to put the pedal to so-called
metal and build up a lead. A time-out in basketball is usually 45 seconds.
What we often see in this 45 second
“timeout” is a conversation between the coach and players. And the coach is
drawing with his or her black magic marker furiously and telling the players
where to run and pass and shoot. That’s a standard
time out.
That was not, however, a Phil
Jackson time out.
Phil Jackson did not use a magic
marker much or draw up up new plays or even to talk to – or lecture – the whole
team.
Rather, he used the time out as a way
to speak closely to one player, find out what was going on with him … and get
him back in the game.
I imagine he did not spend a lot of
time talking to Michael Jordan, because Jordan did not need much correcting.
Probably he was talking to Dennis Rodman or Scottie Pippen. Or, Shaquille
O’Neal.
He took the opportunity of the time
out to have a more intimate conversation with his players.
[_03_] The
Transfiguration is similar to a time-out, a break in the action as the clock is
ticking toward the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
Of course, this is not just a game,
but real-life. I use the time-out as an analogy and also a reminder that Jesus
as the leader and teacher has a more profound sense of time and timing and what
is coming next than his disciples do. They understand partially what is coming
next. Jesus knows the timing and plan.
The Transfiguration is connected to
another important moment in the Gospel when Jesus asks – the disciples - on their
2-question midterm “who do people say that I am?” and “who do you say that I
am?
The disciples were told, then, about the Passion, Death and Resurrection. Peter
himself proclaimed and scored 100% on the “Who-do-you-say-that-I-am”
midterm. Peter knew the answer, “You are
the Christ the Son of the Living God.”
Though Peter knew this, he did not yet
recognize the implications of suffering.
The Transfiguration is a time-out
moment, intimately with just a few disciples for Jesus to share the plan of
salvation with them and so that they will get the answers to the future test –
the future test of the Passion and crucifixion – ahead of time. It’s good news
to get the answers to a test ahead of time.
The paradox is that Jesus is glorified
through his suffering the paradox of knowing– as St. Paul writes – “when I am
weak, it is then that I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
[_04_] The
Transfiguration is a moment for the disciples to be prepared for what is coming
next.
In this regard, I am comparing our prayer
moments to “timeouts”
Every time out we take in life is an
opportunity not just for us to figure out what is going on out there – in life
– but to reflect on what is touching or moving within me.
In the time-outs of prayer, then, it is not
necessary – or even advisable – that we bring an agenda or list. Even if we do
not have a list, we can go to prayer. Just bring yourself. And, take time in
the moment.
You - the people of Lourdes, of the
parish – also inspire me to pray, to seek silence, to pray for you and with
you.
This past Christmas Eve, after our
very beautiful Christmas Eve Masses with our choir, I turned on the television
to watch, believe it or not, Christmas Eve – in New York/Manhattan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. One of my friends
told me that this was entirely alien… yet, I felt at that moment in the
Christmas spirit and I knew I would not be able to catch this Mass on ESPN SportsCenter highlights later. It was then or never. I also wanted to hear and
judge whether their choir-singing was any good. They were OK….
So, the disciples are also urged to
pray now, and taught something about the urgency and value of their prayers,
right now.
Our
prayers also have value right now, not because we are asked to draw up a new
play or plan but because we are endeavoring to sense and know God’s voice.
God’s voice which asks us to turn our attention to Christ. As the God the
Father tells us, “this is my beloved/chosen Son, listen to Him.” (Luke 9:35)
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