It is good for us to be here
Today's readings are from Gen 12:1-4a, Ps 33:4-5,18-20,22, 2 Tim 1:8b-10, Matt 17:1-9.
Today's first reading from the Book of Genesis tells us the story of Abram, the man chosen by God to be the Father of Faith of every Jew and eventually every Christian. This reading today displays for us the tremendous trust and faith that Abram had in God. We often lose sight of how dramatic the task with which Abram was charged really was. But he was being asked to uproot his entire life, go into a land that may not be friendly, start all over, all this based on the trust of a God who had still not yet fully revealed Himself. The LORD says quite simply to Abram, "Go forth to the land I will show you." It is true that He follows this up with great assurances of blessing, but to this command from the LORD we read of Abram that he very simply, "went as the LORD directed him." That's it. He was commanded by God, and so he obeyed. That is how simple the life of faith is. It all comes down to obedience. But unfortunately our pride obscures our inner vision of God's will, and we end up choosing our own way, instead of being directed by the wisdom of God.
The Psalm today speaks to us about the real wisdom in following God's way. It begins, "Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy." If only we would trust in the great works of God in our lives, if only our hearts were pure so that we might see God as He truly is, then we would see that "of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full." But we do not fear the LORD as we should, and this causes a real blindness in us. "See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness." If only we could see the wisdom of the fear of the LORD, we would see that it opens us up to truly receive His kindness, His mercy, and His love.
As St. Paul points out to us today, the Gospel is what saves us, and it is the Gospel which calls us all to a holy life, according to God's design and made possible by His grace. This is important to remember, that we are designed for holiness. We are not made to be wretched, we are not made to be sinners, we are made to be holy. And God offers to each of us all the necessary grace to be holy. It is for us to accept. This grace comes to us through Christ alone, the same Christ "who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
This light of Christ is demonstrated in all its magnificence in the Gospel today, the account of the Transfiguration. There is far too much theological material in this account to discuss in one small entry here, but a few things should be highlighted. First, it is the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus that shows the three Apostles that this Christ truly is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. And because Moses and Elijah had the most direct encounters with God, and both on a mountain, it is their appearance here with Jesus on the mountain which indicates to each of us the true divinity of Jesus, as the Father Himself will utter for a second time, "This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him." Yes, we are to listen to the Word of Christ, the Word of God. Just as Jesus' mother told us at the wedding feast, and now Jesus' Father tells us here, our happiness, our blessedness, is entirely dependent upon our faithfulness to Christ. Without true Christian faith, there can be no real peace, there can be no real rest for our restless hearts. "You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Or, as Peter puts it, "Lord, it is good that we are here." This echoes what Peter says again in the Gospel of John, after Jesus' great Eucharistic discourse, when many people turned away. He asked if they too would leave, and Peter responds, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Let us believe like Peter, let us obey like Abram, let us trust like Mary, let us open ourselves to God's grace like Paul, and let us become like Christ.
Peace in Christ,
Michael
Today's first reading from the Book of Genesis tells us the story of Abram, the man chosen by God to be the Father of Faith of every Jew and eventually every Christian. This reading today displays for us the tremendous trust and faith that Abram had in God. We often lose sight of how dramatic the task with which Abram was charged really was. But he was being asked to uproot his entire life, go into a land that may not be friendly, start all over, all this based on the trust of a God who had still not yet fully revealed Himself. The LORD says quite simply to Abram, "Go forth to the land I will show you." It is true that He follows this up with great assurances of blessing, but to this command from the LORD we read of Abram that he very simply, "went as the LORD directed him." That's it. He was commanded by God, and so he obeyed. That is how simple the life of faith is. It all comes down to obedience. But unfortunately our pride obscures our inner vision of God's will, and we end up choosing our own way, instead of being directed by the wisdom of God.
The Psalm today speaks to us about the real wisdom in following God's way. It begins, "Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy." If only we would trust in the great works of God in our lives, if only our hearts were pure so that we might see God as He truly is, then we would see that "of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full." But we do not fear the LORD as we should, and this causes a real blindness in us. "See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness." If only we could see the wisdom of the fear of the LORD, we would see that it opens us up to truly receive His kindness, His mercy, and His love.
As St. Paul points out to us today, the Gospel is what saves us, and it is the Gospel which calls us all to a holy life, according to God's design and made possible by His grace. This is important to remember, that we are designed for holiness. We are not made to be wretched, we are not made to be sinners, we are made to be holy. And God offers to each of us all the necessary grace to be holy. It is for us to accept. This grace comes to us through Christ alone, the same Christ "who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
This light of Christ is demonstrated in all its magnificence in the Gospel today, the account of the Transfiguration. There is far too much theological material in this account to discuss in one small entry here, but a few things should be highlighted. First, it is the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus that shows the three Apostles that this Christ truly is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. And because Moses and Elijah had the most direct encounters with God, and both on a mountain, it is their appearance here with Jesus on the mountain which indicates to each of us the true divinity of Jesus, as the Father Himself will utter for a second time, "This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him." Yes, we are to listen to the Word of Christ, the Word of God. Just as Jesus' mother told us at the wedding feast, and now Jesus' Father tells us here, our happiness, our blessedness, is entirely dependent upon our faithfulness to Christ. Without true Christian faith, there can be no real peace, there can be no real rest for our restless hearts. "You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Or, as Peter puts it, "Lord, it is good that we are here." This echoes what Peter says again in the Gospel of John, after Jesus' great Eucharistic discourse, when many people turned away. He asked if they too would leave, and Peter responds, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Let us believe like Peter, let us obey like Abram, let us trust like Mary, let us open ourselves to God's grace like Paul, and let us become like Christ.
Peace in Christ,
Michael