May Jesus Christ be
praised and may his holy Mother pray for us.
It is a word of
encouragement and a moment of promise.
The transfiguration of the Lord Jesus on the high mountain, when the
splendor of his glory was revealed, is a word of encouragement and a moment of
promise. We need this word, dear
brothers and sisters, and we need this promise.
On the high mountain
with Peter, James and John the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father was
revealed. In the presence of Peter,
James and John, Elijah the Prophet and Moses the giver of the Law conversed
with the Lord Jesus. On the high
mountain the voice of the Father gave testimony about his Son. It was a word of encouragement and a moment
of promise. It was a revelation of the
glory to be revealed, before the days of suffering in Jerusalem. It was a gift of the Father, who is giving
the world the gift of his Son.
The disciples of Jesus
had heard that he is going to Jerusalem, and they had heard the prediction of
the cross. It is for them a time of
confusion and a time of doubt. It is the
same kind of doubt and confusion experienced by Abraham when he was asked to
sacrifice Isaac. It is a time of
confusion and doubt before the mystery of a loving God. It is a time of confusion and doubt before
the reality of suffering and death. It
is time of confusion and doubt for these people of faith on the high mountain. And the response of God is a word of
encouragement and a moment of promise.
The voice of the Father
gives testimony about his Son. The voice
of the Father invites us to listen to the Beloved Son. The presence of Elijah and Moses, the
representatives of the Law and the Prophets, give testimony about the Lord
Jesus. The presence of Elijah and Moses,
give the disciples encouragement that this Jesus is the one through whom the
law was given and for whom the prophets spoke.
They were signs of encouragement because they were believers in the
promise.
Only ten days into our
Lenten journey and we need a word of encouragement and a moment of promise. We have not been invited up a high mountain,
but to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, to the assembly of the firstborn
enrolled in heaven. We have been invited
to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and in our midst the words of the law
and the prophets are proclaimed. We are
offered here the word of encouragement.
We are offered here a moment of promise.
We are offered here, a share in the glory that will be revealed. We are promised here, a time to be with
Jesus. It is good Lord that we are
here. Amen.
Preached
at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Monroe, NC
