This week’s Clergy Corner
taken from the March 1st Bulletin:
On this second Sunday of Lent, and every second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mt 17:1-9). The Transfiguration event beautifully reminded the disciples of the glory Jesus possessed and that his glory would ultimately overcome the darkness of evil in his life and in theirs. But the glory would come later. First comes the cross. In its deepest meaning, the Transfiguration underlines the glorious truth as proclaimed by Paul: “If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are also to live with him” (Rm 6:8).
Our whole life is called to be a metamorphosis, a process of constant conversion. What is the secret of the transformation? What do we need to change? This is the secret, listen to Jesus! The Father is also telling us, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” During this season of Lent, we are called to pray and listen to Jesus’ voice. Trust him! Listen to him when you are lost, when darkness of temptation, when fearful of your weakness, when your vision is clouded and you have lost sight of the way.
Listening to Jesus in his Word, we will be enlightened! Transfigured! If we want to be transfigured, we must listen. The key to the transfiguration is listening to Jesus. He speaks to us in many ways at Mass but also through events of our life. The Lord speaks to us through difficult relationships and conflicts we have. He speaks to us through illness. He speaks to us when we pray, when we read the word of God, when we receive the sacraments, and when we love our neighbor. Having found God’s voice, we listen and having truly listened we obey: We “let go and let God.”
The way to holiness is the way of transfiguration with Christ. Like Christ’s transfiguration on the mountain, our own transfiguration in this life may still be imperfect. Nevertheless, it breaks through sometimes with brilliance when we do a noble deed. Every time we act in love, attend Mass, receive a sacrament, or live in fidelity to Christ our Way by thought, word, or deed, we grow in holiness. Each time we faithfully carry out the duties of our state of life, we climb higher on Tabor.
With his grace we too can become agents of change, able to transfigure the world around us. One of the most noble, selfless, humble and hidden ways of sanctity is to seek and serve the members of Christ’s Body especially the lost, the least and the last. The transfiguration is about letting the glory of God shine through us so that others can catch a glimpse of that glory.
– Fr. Cosme