2nd Sunday in of Lent Year B - 28/2/2021 - Gospel: Mk 9: 1-9
Glory
The account of the Transfiguration reveals the incomprehensible kind of glory God had shown to Jesus' apostles. The presence of the two historical figures in dazzling light, Moses and Elijah, confirmed that when our earthly life is ended; there is another life, a life of God's glory, waiting for those who are faithful to God. Both Moses and Elijah were men of faith; the former was a symbol of the Law and the latter was a prophet. For Jesus' apostles the two men had left this earth thousand years earlier, and yet their presence confirms the afterlife is an everlasting life. Jesus' Apostles had never seen the patriarch, and yet it was no trouble to recognize them. They instantly recognized Moses and Elijah. This may be the answer for the query 'How do I recognize my loved ones in heaven?'. The correct answer lies with the apostles.
Like moon gets lights from sun, God shows this glory through God's creations. We, human beings, have no trouble enjoying God's glory in His creations. They actually were created for us to enjoy. We enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset; we admire the glory of mountain range and ocean reef; we marvel at the beauty of flowers. There are other kinds of glory, the ones created by the world, such as fame and power. God's glory is incorruptible; glory in His creations is utilizable, and the glory created by the world is the worst one. It is highly corruptible; it is the cause of all evils, such as, greed and pride, because Satan uses them to tempt us. Satan made claim to world's glory. Satan once told Jesus that he owned it. 'I will give you all this power and the kingdoms of the world, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose' Lk 4,6.
The apostles faced down when they saw Jesus' brightness. Human beings are not made to view the Divine directly. Jesus' disciples are hoping to see God's glory and power at His second coming. The apostles heard God's voice, and the voices of the Patriarch. Peter's petition to Jesus about putting up Tents on the mountain was interrupted by God's voice. God told them to listen to Jesus' voice. 'This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to Him'. v. 8. Jesus told them to come down, and keep quiet about what they had seen and heard, until, 'After the Son of Man has risen from the dead' v.9.
Jesus' Apostles preferred to stay up on the mountain, because they failed to understand, that seeing God's glory implied a mission to follow. In the case of Moses, he saw God's glory up on the mountain. He returned to God's people, and led them to enter the Promised Land. Jesus saw God's glory up in the mountain. He returned to God's people to lead them to the 'Everlasting Promised Land' which is God's kingdom. We sometimes choose to follow not God's ways, but our own or the worldly ways. Our loving God would never abandon us, but patiently waits for us to return, to listen to Jesus' voice, and to reconcile. The glimpse of God's glory is the assurance that God is always with us. Through Jesus, God continues to guide us, journey with us, share our daily cross. We follow Jesus in trust, and hope. His promise to send the Holy Spirit to guide us confirms we will never be alone in our pilgrimage.
Lent is the time for us to keep God's glory shining. By praying, fasting and acts of charity, others may know that we are Jesus' disciples.
Like moon gets lights from sun, God shows this glory through God's creations. We, human beings, have no trouble enjoying God's glory in His creations. They actually were created for us to enjoy. We enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset; we admire the glory of mountain range and ocean reef; we marvel at the beauty of flowers. There are other kinds of glory, the ones created by the world, such as fame and power. God's glory is incorruptible; glory in His creations is utilizable, and the glory created by the world is the worst one. It is highly corruptible; it is the cause of all evils, such as, greed and pride, because Satan uses them to tempt us. Satan made claim to world's glory. Satan once told Jesus that he owned it. 'I will give you all this power and the kingdoms of the world, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose' Lk 4,6.
The apostles faced down when they saw Jesus' brightness. Human beings are not made to view the Divine directly. Jesus' disciples are hoping to see God's glory and power at His second coming. The apostles heard God's voice, and the voices of the Patriarch. Peter's petition to Jesus about putting up Tents on the mountain was interrupted by God's voice. God told them to listen to Jesus' voice. 'This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to Him'. v. 8. Jesus told them to come down, and keep quiet about what they had seen and heard, until, 'After the Son of Man has risen from the dead' v.9.
Jesus' Apostles preferred to stay up on the mountain, because they failed to understand, that seeing God's glory implied a mission to follow. In the case of Moses, he saw God's glory up on the mountain. He returned to God's people, and led them to enter the Promised Land. Jesus saw God's glory up in the mountain. He returned to God's people to lead them to the 'Everlasting Promised Land' which is God's kingdom. We sometimes choose to follow not God's ways, but our own or the worldly ways. Our loving God would never abandon us, but patiently waits for us to return, to listen to Jesus' voice, and to reconcile. The glimpse of God's glory is the assurance that God is always with us. Through Jesus, God continues to guide us, journey with us, share our daily cross. We follow Jesus in trust, and hope. His promise to send the Holy Spirit to guide us confirms we will never be alone in our pilgrimage.
Lent is the time for us to keep God's glory shining. By praying, fasting and acts of charity, others may know that we are Jesus' disciples.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
