Climbing (2011-03-20, Lent)

This is my homily for Sunday, 20 March 2011. I am a Catholic chaplain at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

Genesis 12:1-4a | Psalm 33 | 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 | Matthew 17:1-9

[__01] Climbing a mountain requires a total-body commitment. Hands, feet, legs, arms. One’s head also needs to be in the game.

Peter is well aware of this physical commitment which was required to ascend the mountain and to witness the transfiguration.

And, he wants to continue this physical commitment with further visible and physical construction. Peter wants to do a renovation upstairs, upstairs on top of the
mountain by adding these 3 tents.

After seeing Jesus in dazzling white, Peter says:
“Lord it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. ” (Matthew 17:4)
It took a lot to climb, and Peter wants to improve the summit-landscape while he is up there.

[__02] Great balance and great effort are also required now. In Japan, northeast of Tokyo, outside the Fukushima Dai Ichi (Fukushima Number One) nuclear reactor, we observe the rescue of the living and the recovery of the dead.

The Japanese people have suffered earthquake, tsunami, aftershock and now, radiation fallout from a power plant.

The Japanese people want their land to be transfigured, transformed after these catastrophic events. It will not happen overnight.

It will take great effort and balance from international organizations, the Japanese people, the U.S. Navy. It will be a gradual transformation.

We pray for safety of the rescue workers, the Japanese people, neighboring countries, and our own people. We pray that will avert even greater catastrophe.

[__03___] Peter, James, and John are reminded of the importance of gradual conversion, gradual change.

Peter, in the Gospel, unrolls a blueprint for what he wants to build immediately. He wants immediate material satisfaction.

And, faith – confidence in God – is present in Peter’s architectural plans, isn’t there?

Peter sees the Lord in dazzling white, sees the Lord glorious. And, Peter wants to commemorate this moment.

However, Jesus is not only glorious in the vision of dazzling white with Moses and Elijah.

Jesus is also glorious and victorious:
• On the Cross, dying
• In the courtroom of Pilate, being convicted of blasphemy.
• In the court of public opinion, being rejected.
• In the tomb, leaving the space empty and stone rolled away.

And, Peter will need physical and mental stamina in all of these cases, running in both directions. First Peter runs away in denial..then he runs to return and races to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning.

[__04__] And, Jesus reminds us of the same, that we are glorious and victorious even if we are rejected.

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

Life is not only about achievement and construction.

[__05__] And, loving another person requires a certain physical stamina and commitment… even amid rejection and misunderstanding.

Love and charity will motivate the rescue workers in Japan – what else but love?

Could you pay someone enough to do this work?

One might say this is duty, and the Japanese are long on duty and avoidance of shame, we might say or observe from outside.

Doesn’t love, however, also include duty and obligation… carrying out promises made?

Love and charity makes possible physical rescue, consolation, comfort.

We might say that rescue, consolation, comfort are part of love and charity. They are not the sum total of love and charity.

Isn’t this true after a hurricane or earthquake?

A person can be rescued from the rubble …but it is not enough to give them a sleeping bag, water, food and televised updates.

But, a victim – any body – needs to be loved and cared for.

Physical touch and rescue and consolation are steps on the journey, they are not the entire journey.

And, this is what the Lord is reminding Pter who has a shopping list ready for Home Depot and reminding Peter who wants to build something visible and quickly.

Jesus is reminding Peter – be patient, conversion is going to be a gradual process of transformation. Not something only external but also internal.

And, this requires attentiveness, attentiveness to God’s voice – to remind us that love is also about listening.

We are called to listen to Christ – “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased listen to Him.” (Matthew 17:5)

And, we are called to be open to the Holy Spirit, a voice sometimes spoken through those who truly love us, reminding us also to listen to him. [__end__]