We continue our Lenten theme this week of: Jesus, the Suffering Servant, by considering the event of his Transfiguration upon the mountain in the presence of Peter, James and John, and also in the presence of Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah represent the Old Order; Peter, James and John the soon to be established New Order.
This event took place chronologically about a week before the Passion of Jesus. Jesus was making his way resolutely, deliberately and with a deep sense of joy in his heart – to Jerusalem – for the last time: he would be crucified by the end of the week: and he did not shrink back! He embraced the completion of his earthly life's work!: the redemption of bodies; the salvation of souls - because God the Father loved us so very much!
On this day, on that mountain: Jesus was discussing with Moses who represented the "Law" of God; and Elijah, who represented the Prophets of God – the details of the upcoming events. He was telling them that on Friday both the Law and the Prophets would be fulfilled – completely, totally, and irrevocably – in his voluntary and free self-sacrificial death. Jesus would take upon himself every negative thing about Fallen Humanity – and transform it into something infinitely positive by dying like one of his creatures – and dying a most brutal death at that!
Jesus is truly the servant of God, who gathered all of the suffering of the world into himself to redeem it and change it into newness of life!
In the second reading today St. Paul tells us to "bear our share of hardship for the gospel – with the strength that comes from God." This is a very important statement! As Jesus embraced his "suffering servanthood," so too we are called to embrace ours! Hardship comes with the gospel – they go hand in hand! But so too does joy, and new and peaceful life! They go hand in hand with the gospel as well! But you can't have the one without the other!
The strength to bear the hardship comes from the Holy Spirit; as well as the strength to celebrate the joy! Both take effort – but the second is a vitalizing kind of effort that comes from doing what is right and good!
All of this might be difficult to understand or to incorporate into one's life: that is why, in the first reading today – we see how Abram was promised many blessings – including the strength to do what God asked him to do – because he was the first to believe in God as One, Creating, Benevolent, Spiritual Being! And it is our incorporation into the family faith of Abraham that makes it possible for us to understand what God is telling us, and to put it into practice!
When we profess our faith – as we do at this Mass – or any other time – we are making amazing and unparalleled statements that no other group of people in human history has ever made. We can do this because of God's invitation to do so; and because we generously respond to the invitation and BELIEVE – as did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John, Paul and all the rest - all the way down to our own generation!
Let your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we place our trust in you as all of them did and do!
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