{"id":987,"date":"2013-02-25T11:34:59","date_gmt":"2013-02-25T16:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=987"},"modified":"2013-02-25T11:35:00","modified_gmt":"2013-02-25T16:35:00","slug":"the-transfiguration-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/the-transfiguration-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"The Transfiguration – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"

2<\/span>nd<\/span><\/sup> Sunday in Lent, Year C<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>
\nGenesis 15:5-12, 17-19
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>Philippians 3:17-4:1
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>Luke 9:28b-38
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>February 24, 2013<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord leads Abraham (Abram) outside to look at the stars but it is not a simple night to gaze at the stars.\u00a0 It is a profound event.<\/p>\n

Picture the stars.\u00a0 Think about counting them.\u00a0 How many are there?\u00a0 Too vast to count.\u00a0 Think of the immensity of the universe.<\/p>\n

God is the creator of the universe.\u00a0 As its creator, God is infinite.\u00a0 God is present in all of that.<\/p>\n

But God isn\u2019t showing Abraham the stars just to say look how great He is.<\/p>\n

Abraham and Sarah have no children as this point.\u00a0 God is establishing a promise to Abraham that he will have a son.\u00a0 In fact, not just one son, but descendants as numerous as the stars.\u00a0 This includes Isaac and his descendants but not just biologically.\u00a0 All of us who believe in the one true God are spiritual descendants of Abraham.<\/p>\n

The rest of this passage is God establishing a covenant with Abraham to fulfill the promise of an heir.<\/p>\n

Think about the vastness of the stars and what it says about God.\u00a0 God is infinite and yet He is concerned about us.\u00a0 God loves each and every one of us.\u00a0 In His love, God draws us all into a covenant with Him, a covenant formed in our Baptism.<\/p>\n

We are baptized because of our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s story of the Transfiguration is told us to help us understand how Jesus is the Son of God and part of that greatness.\u00a0 God wants us to understand this.<\/p>\n

Often Jesus goes off to pray by himself but this time he takes Peter, James, and John with him.\u00a0 As Jesus prays, Peter, James, and John fall asleep. They awaken to something incredible.<\/p>\n

We are told that Jesus\u2019 clothing became dazzling white.\u00a0 White is a sign of purity.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we wear white at our baptism.<\/p>\n

But with Jesus, the dazzling white is much more.\u00a0 It reveals his divine nature as the Son of God.\u00a0 It reveals his glory.\u00a0 It reveals what it is to come as Paul writes, \u201cHe will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 Transfiguration alone is incredible and should be enough for us to believe but that isn\u2019t all.<\/p>\n

Then, Moses and Elijah appeared.\u00a0 This is no trivial point.\u00a0 Moses is the one who delivered the Law given by God.\u00a0 His presence affirms Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law.<\/p>\n

Elijah is one of the great prophets.\u00a0 His presence affirms Jesus as the fulfillment of all the prophecies.<\/p>\n

Jesus is the Messiah!<\/p>\n

Peter and the others are so struck by this they aren\u2019t sure what to do.\u00a0 Peter, always eager, says that they will build three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.\u00a0 Sounds like a strange thing perhaps but I can\u2019t help but think that Peter is so amazed by what he is seeing that he doesn\u2019t know what to say but very much wants to capture the greatness of the moment.<\/p>\n

Yet, the scene is not yet finished.\u00a0 A cloud comes down upon them, a frightening experience.\u00a0 But while they are within that cloud, one more thing happens.<\/p>\n

A voice, but not just any voice, but God\u2019s voice calls out, \u201cThis is my chosen Son, listen to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jesus is the Son of God!<\/p>\n

Incredible.<\/p>\n

Nothing short of incredible!<\/p>\n

Think about seeing Jesus transfigured.\u00a0 What does it mean to you?\u00a0 Think not with just your brain but with your heart (faith and reason).\u00a0 What does it mean for us to profess Jesus as Messiah and Son of God?<\/p>\n

It should mean everything.<\/p>\n

What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is our Messiah and Son of God?\u00a0 What difference does it make for you?<\/p>\n

Yes, I ask what difference does it make for you.\u00a0 Certainly, it gives us hope of the heavenly kingdom.\u00a0 But do we live any differently knowing Jesus?<\/p>\n

I think this is what we need to be asking ourselves for Lent.\u00a0 What difference does knowing Jesus make for me?\u00a0 Do it change the way I live my life?\u00a0 Would people be shocked to learn I am Catholic?<\/p>\n

Getting to Heaven is not simply saying Jesus is Son of God.\u00a0 It requires us to live as we believe.\u00a0 That means seeking God\u2019s will over own.\u00a0 Do we?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2nd Sunday in Lent, Year C Genesis 15:5-12, 17-19 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 9:28b-38 February 24, 2013 The Lord leads Abraham (Abram) outside to look at the stars but it is not a simple night to gaze at the stars.\u00a0 It is a profound event. Picture the stars.\u00a0 Think about counting them.\u00a0 How many are there?\u00a0 …<\/p>\n

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