The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the mountain top experiences of our life journey in an openness that allows the Spirit to reveal the Transcendent.
The reading from the Book of Daniel describes judgement before the Ancient One.
* [7:13–14] One like a son of man: In contrast to the worldly kingdoms opposed to God, which are represented as grotesque beasts, the coming Kingdom of God is represented by a human figure. Scholars disagree as to whether this figure should be taken as a collective symbol for the people of God (cf. 7:27) or identified as a particular individual, e.g., the archangel Michael (cf. 12:1) or the messiah. The phrase “Son of Man” becomes a title for Jesus in the gospels, especially in passages dealing with the Second Coming (Mk 13 and parallels). (Daniel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 97 praises the Glory of God’s Reign.
* [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods (Ps 97:1–6); cf. Ps 18:8–16; Mi 1:3–4; Heb 3:3–15. Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (Ps 97:7–9) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous (Ps 97:10–12). (Psalms, PSALM 97 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter of Peter describes being an eyewitnesses of Christ’s Glory.
* [1:12–19] The purpose in writing is to call to mind the apostle’s witness to the truth, even as he faces the end of his life (2 Pt 1:12–15), his eyewitness testimony to Christ (1 Pt 1:16–18), and the true prophetic message (2 Pt 1:19) through the Spirit in scripture (2 Pt 1:20–21), in contrast to what false teachers are setting forth (2 Pt 2). (2 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Peter, James, and John witness Jesus Transfiguration.
* [9:35] Like the heavenly voice that identified Jesus at his baptism prior to his undertaking the Galilean ministry (Lk 3:22), so too here before the journey to the city of destiny is begun (Lk 9:51) the heavenly voice again identifies Jesus as Son. Listen to him: the two representatives of Israel of old depart (Lk 9:33) and Jesus is left alone (Lk 9:36) as the teacher whose words must be heeded (see also Acts 3:22). (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Ed Morse comments that our faith depends on revelation of the divine mystery of God, who draws us into this mystery. The wonders of the created world testify to a Creator, kindling a desire to pay homage to the One who created, even though we do not yet know him. The light of truth is revealed little by little throughout a long history of encounters and events, revealing still more, until God himself comes to us through His Son.
Few of us are privileged to have firsthand experiences with miraculous events. But the faithful retelling of these events help to draw us deeper into the divine mystery, which continues to be revealed as we live out a relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – our father, our brother, and our helper – through the Church and with the help of the sacraments. As we continue to sojourn here, sustained by these good gifts, we also await the day when we become eyewitnesses ourselves, seeing our Lord face to face and beholding the goodness that God has prepared for those who love him. (See 1 Cor. 2:9).
Lord, draw us to yourself and sustain our faith, helping us to know that you have not left the Earth without witnesses to your glory, love, and mercy. We pray especially for those who have lost their way, who need a touch from you. Thanks be to God. (Creighton U. Daily Reflection, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Listen to Him,” by Leo the Great, 400?-461 A.D.
"A voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. I am manifested through his preaching. I am glorified through his humility. So listen to him without hesitation. He is the truth and the life. He is my strength and wisdom. "Listen to him" whom the mysteries of the law foreshadowed, of whom the mouths of the prophets sang. "Listen to him" who by his blood redeemed the world, who binds the devil and seizes his vessels, who breaks the debt of sin and the bondage of iniquity. "Listen to him" who opens the way to heaven and by the pain of the cross prepares for you the steps of ascent into his kingdom." (excerpt from Sermon 38,7) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 9:28-36 comments that it is no wonder that, when he awoke, Peter had the wrong idea about how to honor what had just happened. Offering to build tents for the three figures, he tried to keep them there, fixed in glory, for all the world to see. But if he had heard about Jesus’ exodus, Peter might have grasped that Jesus is glorified both in his heavenly radiance and in his self-giving on the cross. He might have grasped, too, that this cross is the path to glory for everyone who follows the Lord.
Every time you come to the Lord in prayer, you too have the opportunity to hear from him—whether it’s in Scripture, as you review the events of the day, or as you reflect on the people in your life. So don’t fall asleep! Keep your “spiritual ears” open to hear him. Even if it’s just a sense of peace or a quick thought that makes you feel more compassion for someone, Jesus wants to talk with you!
“Lord, it is good for me to be here with you! Open my ears and my heart to hear you.” (Meditation on Luke 9:28-36, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the time of the authorship of the Book of Daniel and the transition in the understanding and application of the theme of Son of Man. Jesus used the Son of Man terminology from Daniel and the Suffering Servant imagery from Isaiah to refer to Himself. Friar Jude reminds us of the traditions of the Law, Prophecy, and special knowledge of heaven associated with the Transfiguration account.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces popular author Shauna Niequist who discovered the freedom and love that can be experienced by being present to life as it is. She writes about the difference between a false perfection and a lived presence.
I missed so much of my actual, human, beautiful, not-beautiful life trying to force things into perfect. But these days I’m coming to see that perfect is safe, controlled, managed. I’m finding myself drawn to mess, to darkness, to things that are loved to the point of shabbiness, or just wildly imperfect in their own gorgeous way. . . . Present is living with your feet firmly grounded in reality, pale and uncertain as it may seem. Present is choosing to believe that your own life is worth investing deeply in, instead of waiting for some rare miracle or fairy tale. Present means we understand that the here and now is sacred, sacramental, threaded through with divinity even in its plainness. Especially in its plainness.
Present over perfect living is real over image, connecting over comparing, meaning over mania, depth over artifice. Present over perfect living is the risky and revolutionary belief that the world God has created is beautiful and valuable on its own terms, and that it doesn’t need to be “zhuzzed up” and fancy in order to be wonderful. (Rohr, n.d.)
The awe and wonder we experience on our journey strengthens us to pray for the gifts of the Spirit necessary to fullness of life.
References
Creighton U. Daily Reflection. (n.d.). Online Ministries. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/080622.html
Daniel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/7?9
Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?28
Meditation on Luke 9:28-36. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/08/06/463047/
Psalms, PSALM 97 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/97?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Holy Listening. Daily Meditations Archive: 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/innocence-weekly-summary-2022-08-06/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Listen to My Beloved Son. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug6a
2 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 6, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2peter/1
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