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[__ver-05__] Homily – March 16 2025 / 1st Sunday Lent ● Genesis 15:5-12 ● Psalm 27 ● Philippians 3:17-4:1 ● + Luke 9:28b-36●
[__01_] Regarding the Gospel of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36).
From time to time, there are moments of glory
and greatness in the ordinary life of my mother who lives with Parkinson’s disorder
/ disease and is a courageous and patient person.
Parkinson’s a neurological and
movement disorder that affects motor coordination and also memory and
cognition. There have been reasons for hope not only because my father takes
excellent care of my mother but also because my mother has not lost her will to
live, even to do things she is not supposed, such as unpack her own suitcase.
Her desire to do this brings some hope, even though we know she is not
physically capable.
Also,
my mother can still calm you down or put you in your place if you are carrying
on too long by simply interjecting with, “now, that’s enough.”
[__02_] I bring this up as one example of what many you live with or have lived with, in the long term care of chronic illness.
So many of you help your loved ones.
And we look for rays of sunshine amid the often cloudy conditions and gray
areas.
[__03_] I also bring this up because the Gospel of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) is about the vision of something bright and dazzling amid the and darkness and seemingly unmitigated disaster of Jesus’ passion and death.
This Transfiguration event occurs
several months or one year or more before Good Friday. On Good Friday,
everything is rolling – as we say in West Orange – down the hill. But, in the
Transfiguration Gospel, with Jesus appearing with Moses and Elijah, Jesus is up
the mountain and up the hill, meaning he is also giving access to God in
Heaven.
[__04_] The Transfiguration is one of many profound
mountain experiences in Scripture. God often meets His people on summits.
Consider Abraham’s journey to Mount Moriah with his son, Isaac (Genesis 22).
There, Abraham faced the agonizing test of faith—to sacrifice his son.
Ultimately, God provided a ram, sparing Isaac. This story foreshadows the
ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Like
Abraham's ascent, Jesus' climb anticipates sacrifice. The Jerusalem Temple,
another place of sacrifice, also stands on a mountain. For those who have
visited the Holy Land, the steep climb to Jerusalem is unforgettable. The
Transfiguration, then, is not just a geographic ascent but a spiritual
one—pointing to Christ’s sacrificial journey culminating on Good Friday.
[__05_] Preparing for the Climb: Visualization How do climbers prepare for their journey? One key method is visualization. Climbers mentally rehearse the path—visualizing handholds, footholds, and safety measures. This preparation reduces mental noise, helping them focus on their goal.
Similarly, in our spiritual lives, distractions and noise can obscure our direction. The Transfiguration reminds us to focus on where God is leading us. Are there worries or confusions preventing you from hearing God’s call? Visualization in prayer can help clarify our path.
[__06_] Facing Challenges Through Visualization
Are there difficulties or people you'd rather
avoid? Life presents unavoidable challenges. But through prayer, we can
visualize God's presence even in adversity. The Transfiguration is a glimpse of
Jesus' true glory, reminding us that God's light is present even amid
suffering.
[__07_] The paradox is that Jesus is most in his glory not on this mountain in dazzling white clothing, but most in his glory when he is giving his life, arrested and suffering on the Cross.
The disciples, of course, will be
discouraged – at first – by this definition of glory.
So, Jesus appears in dazzling white
now to reveal His glory ahead of time.
We also need moments to remember
God’s love for us and our call to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
This transfiguration and
visualization reminds his disciples of their hope of being Jesus in paradise,
in heaven.
I pray that this Gospel reminds not
only about the difficulty of climbing each day but that we can already right
now visualize that God is with us. Jesus is here. Listen to Him.
[__08_] Do you know Harvey Silkovitz? Until recently, I also did not know who he was? This past Monday, I received a telephone call from my father at around 8 pm, which was later than he and would usually talk by phone. Nevertheless, I was glad to receive his call and had good news of which I had no knowledge.
He asked if I had watched the game
show, Jeopardy that particular evening.
I was on my way to the store. I had not seen Jeopardy.
He was eager to tell me about one of
the contestants named Harvey Silkowitz. First of all, my father was interested
because Harvey was announced as being from “West Orange New Jersey!”
Great, I thought. But there was more,
because Harvey has Parkinson’s Disease and clearly lives with the disorder. You
can see it in his facial expression, by this stiff movements and relatively
slow speech.
But, because of all this, my father
was really rooting for Harvey.
On the show, Harvey was seated rather
than standing like the other players but other than that, Harvey was the same.
And, Harvey was so good that he knocked off the incumbent Jeopardy champ who
had won a few days in row.
Learning all of this, I felt so
elated- transfigured – in my own attitude towards Parkinson’s and I was really
hoping Harvey would win several more days so I could see him…and also share
this moment with my father and whole family. We could be the Harvey fan club.
And, I could run HQ here in West Orange, New Jersey!
That would be devotion, right!
In this regard, I am just like the
regular disciples looking for faith, hope, and love in all the wrong places.
Looking for material transfiguration
and glory, such as money or the number of consecutive days as Jeopardy champ.
Harvey reigned for one day.
Bummer I thought.
Of course, this is not the right way
to view life.
I congratulate Harvey on this
achievement. I just wanted his presence publicly
and visually to last longer. I am like Peter who was building tents, monuments
on the mountain to make the Transfiguration moment last longer.
The cloudiness of my mother’s illness
was brightened by this ray of Harvey sunshine, but is there not more than this?
My mother herself has never been on Jeopardy, but she has immeasurable value in
our lives.
True glory and greatness and cannot be
measured in material terms.
[__09_] Our
Lent began last Sunday with temptation and Jesus' 40 days in the desert, but
His vision remained fixed on His mission. The Transfiguration affirms that
Jesus' mission and true glory is found not in dazzling appearances but in His
sacrificial love on the cross. This paradox reveals that true victory comes
through surrender.
[__10_] Listening to Christ in Our Climb
The
disciples were likely discouraged by Jesus' path to suffering, but the
Transfiguration offered them a glimpse of His ultimate glory. Similarly, we
need moments of clarity—reminders of God's love and the hope of eternal life.
[__11_] St. Joseph
March
is also the month of Joseph, foster father of Jesus in the Holy Family and an
example of one whose glory was in his humility and silence and faith.
The
Transfiguration reassures us that even amid life's climbs, God is with us. We are
called to listen to Him, to remember that Jesus is near, guiding us every step
of the way.
May
this Gospel strengthen our resolve, reminding us that while the climb is
challenging, the summit—God's presence—is always worth it. Let us continue our
journey, trusting that Jesus walks beside us. Listen to Him.
[end]
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