“GENEROUS LENT 2017”
Lenten Reflections
Sunday, 12th March 2017.
Second Week of Lent
Gen 1:1-4;
Ps 33:4-5, 18-22;
2 Tim 1:8-10;
Mt 17:1-9.
The Liturgy of the first week of Lent, prepared us on the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It set pace for us to cultivate a proper disposition the season of Lent. Last Sunday’s liturgy prepared us on temptations, and enlightened on the need to clean up our souls from sin. Jesus showed us the way to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil in that desert. He opens today through the Transfiguration, a door to eternity and calls us all into the very glory which He has with his Father. Through the transfiguration we are called to the Resurrection of our bodies, when we will be free from sin. Just as the body of the Lord was glorified on the mountain, so the bodies of the saints will be glorified and shine like lightning. "The glory which you have given me I have given to them" (Jn 17:22).
Relationships grow in time. We know people better with time. The Apostles too must have taken quite some time to know Jesus. Their relationship began when he had first called them. They lived with him and listened to his teachings and witnessed miracles and healings. Their knowledge of Jesus, must have matured over time, for Peter to declare Him as the Messiah saying:“You are Christ, the Son of the living God”. But Peter raised objection when Jesus foretold His death, Jesus must have understood, that the disciples had not known him well enough. They mistook Him as the political Messiah who would rule on earth forever. Thus, possibly six days later Jesus choses Peter, James and John to witness the event of transfiguration which is narrated in today’s Gospel.
The transfiguration of Jesus took place on the mountain. Mountains were considered a place of God experience. As Jesus transfigured, His garments were dazzling white and his face began to shine. This figure that Jesus manifested was the quintessence of the glorious form that would come after the end of materialistic earthly life. Moses and Elijah who in the Jewish tradition symbolized the two important aspects of Judaism: The Law and the Prophets also appeared. Both Moses and Elijah were the personalities who had God experience on mountains and had led the people of Israel back to God.
Looking at this awe-inspiring yet frightening scene, Peter offers to build three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Peter desired to prolong this experience. God intervenes and reveals to the disciples, Jesus’ divine Son-ship saying, “This is my beloved Son…” The disciples are frightened and fall on their faces. When they rise, everything turns back to normal. This event must have been more powerful than any miracles or healings that these three disciples witnessed. In the transfiguration, the Divinity of Jesus was revealed to them. They came to know who Jesus truly was and must have also understood the reason why Jesus was speaking about his impending Death and Resurrection. The disciples would get to know Jesus better again during the Last Supper, his agony in Gethsemane, his Passion, death and resurrection. The entire time they were with Jesus, they came to know Jesus better and what was to be His disciple. It is the same for us.
In today’s first reading, we hear about the call of Abram. Abram immediately responds to the very first call of God. And it is only in the passage of time that he comes to know God and His mission for him better. So also, the more we spend time in God experience the more we know God, and the more we know God the more we know the plan God has for us.
Lent is a reflective time to invite God’s grace in our lives. It is not only a time to give up things, but also a time to receive greater gifts from God. God has not forgotten us, his children, rather since we have forgotten Him and moved away. Today, Love is revealed to us in the face of Jesus. Jesus through his Resurrection, makes us partake in the eternal plan of God, to be divine, to be loved by God and to be always be in His presence. The Resurrection, like the transfiguration brings into our lives, such a great light, that no darkness remains.
The scripture points us ways to go in this direction. First is to take time to pray, like Jesus. Second is to know Jesus, this is done by a contemplation of the Word of God, God spoke to the disciples, ‘listen to Him’, so also the Word of God reveals to us each day, the person of Jesus. Thirdly, to be united with our community. Like the three apostles, experienced Jesus, we are also in union with our community, called to partake and share in the luminous experience of God. This is possible, each day in the Holy Eucharist, we are all as one community, called to communion to experience the divine transfiguration of the Lord in the Eucharist. And Finally, to share that experience with others. The disciples did not share their experience at that time, but later after the Resurrection, when they clearly understood the meaning of the transfiguration, they shared it with others, by preaching the Good News. So also we are called to proclaim the Transfiguration by opening ourselves to bring hope to all in desolation. We are called to rediscover the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead, to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently with those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead.
Prayer: Lord, may I be consoled by Your glory and splendor. May I believe in this glory and keep it ever in my mind as I press on through the hardships and challenges I face. You travel the road ahead of me and You will lead me on my journey if I only trust in You. Jesus, I do trust in You! Amen.
Holy Habit for Lent: LEAVING YOUR COMFORT ZONE – Lord help me to go out of my regular way this lent. May I offer my seat on the bus to someone else, or do something I would not do normally. Amen.