Theophany and Transfiguration

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.

Mountaintop Experience

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 

Heart Soul Mind and Strength

 

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to allow our relationship with God to be the rich soil within which we grow to fullness of life.

Soil prepared for the Seed

 

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews contains God’s promise to ‘put my laws in their hearts’.

* [10:11–18] Whereas the levitical priesthood offered daily sacrifices that were ineffectual in remitting sin (Heb 10:11), Jesus offered a single sacrifice that won him a permanent place at God’s right hand. There he has only to await the final outcome of his work (Heb 10:12–13; cf. Ps 110:1). Thus he has brought into being in his own person the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 31:33–34) that has rendered meaningless all other offerings for sin (Heb 10:14–18).1 

Psalm 110 offers assurance of victory for God’s Priest-King.

* [110:4] Melchizedek: Melchizedek was the ancient king of Salem (Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham (Gn 14:18–20); like other kings of the time he performed priestly functions. Heb 7 sees in Melchizedek a type of Christ.2

 

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Sower.

* [4:1–34] In parables (Mk 4:2): see note on Mt 13:3. The use of parables is typical of Jesus’ enigmatic method of teaching the crowds (Mk 4:2–9, 12) as compared with the interpretation of the parables he gives to his disciples (Mk 4:10–25, 33–34) to each group according to its capacity to understand (Mk 4:9–11). The key feature of the parable at hand is the sowing of the seed (Mk 4:3), representing the breakthrough of the kingdom of God into the world. The various types of soil refer to the diversity of response accorded the word of God (Mk 4:4–7). The climax of the parable is the harvest of thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold, indicating the consummation of the kingdom (Mk 4:8). Thus both the present and the future action of God, from the initiation to the fulfillment of the kingdom, is presented through this and other parables (Mk 4:26–29, 30–32).3 

Tom Quinn suggests that it may not be obvious to us in which type of soil we are developing our faith.

We are in rapidly changing circumstances. Most of us generally feel that we have developed in rich soil, but it is clear that the vines and thorns are never far away. We can read and hear the word of God more easily than ever before, but "worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things," may choke our efforts to spiritually flourish. We need always to strive to be a positive force; struggle to bear fruit.4 

Don Schwager quotes “Why does this generation seek a sign,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).

 

"As the sower fairly and indiscriminately disperses seed broadly over all his field, so does God offer gifts to all, making no distinction between rich and poor, wise and foolish, lazy or diligent, brave or cowardly. He addresses everyone, fulfilling his part, although knowing the results beforehand.... Why then, tell me, was so much of the seed lost? Not through the sower, but through the ground that received it-meaning the soul that did not listen.... Even though more seed would be lost than survive, the disciples were not to lose heart. For it is the way of the Lord never to stop sowing the seed, even when he knows beforehand that some of it will not respond. But how can it be reasonable, one asks, to sow among the thorns, or on the rock, or alongside the road? Maybe it is not reasonable insofar as it pertains only to seeds and earth, for the bare rock is not likely to turn into tillable soil, and the roadside will remain roadside and the thorns, thorns. But in the case of free wills and their reasonable instruction, this kind of sowing is praiseworthy. For the rocky soul can in time turn into rich soil. Among souls, the wayside may come no longer to be trampled by all that pass, and may become a fertile field. The thorns may be destroyed and the seed enjoy full growth. For had this not been impossible, this sower would not have sown. And even if no change whatever occurs in the soul, this is no fault of the sower, but of those who are unwilling to be changed. He has done his part." (excerpt from GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 44.5.1)5

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 4:1-20 comments that we can prepare the soil of our heart so that it’s more receptive to the seeds of God’s word.

First, clear the field. Ask the Spirit to help you uncover any rocks or thorny brambles. Are there some areas of the Christian life where you cannot seem to sink deep roots? It’s possible that a recurring vice or a worldly way of thinking is thwarting your growth. Perhaps it’s a long-standing resentment or another area of your life in which the gospel does not guide your actions. Next, fertilize the field. Jesus led by example in always turning to his Father, especially before important actions. Follow his example by spending time in prayer and reading Scripture each day—that’s where you can connect with Jesus and receive the nourishment you need to bear spiritual fruit.6

 

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the author of Hebrews contrasts the high priest of the Hebrew Testament with Jesus and His sacrifice of His Blood. We pass outside of time in the celebration of the Mass to be present at the Supper, Cross, and Resurrection. Friar Jude connects the Gospel passage to the Great Commandment that describes how to love God.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the largest and final dome is the realm of universal meaning.

 

This sacred canopy is The Story that is always true, the patterns that every culture and religion discover in some manner.

If all three domes are taken seriously, as the Bible does very well, we have a full life—fully human and fully divine. The genius of the biblical revelation is that it gives us permission and even direction to take conscious ownership of our own story at every level, every part of our life and experience. God will use all of this material, even the negative parts, to bring us to life and love. Now that’s really good news! Suddenly we can take our own lives seriously, the good and the bad parts, because God has done it first! We are neither trapped inside of our little culture and group identity, nor our private pain and hurts. We are people of the Big Picture and live inside of a lovely cosmic egg of full meaning, where nothing is eliminated and all is used to bring us to life. Jesus taught us to call that the kingdom of God.7

 

Our experience of fullness in life is the fruit of our struggle to be agents of a love that involves our whole mind, life, and talents.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Hebrews, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/10
2	(n.d.). Psalms, PSALM 110 | USCCB. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/110
3	(n.d.). Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online .... Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012721.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2021&date=jan27
6	(n.d.). Saint Angela Merici, Virgin (Optional Memorial) - Mass .... Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/01/27/180669/
7	(2021, January 24). The Cosmic Egg Archives — Center for Action and .... Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://cac.org/themes/the-cosmic-egg/