My Dear Brothers and Sisters
Today’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration – where Peter, James and John really did see Jesus in a different light – the light of God. It was also a “mountain-top” experience for all of them.
When we are leaving home coming to church on Sunday, we are going up a mountain to pray and to meet Jesus: Are we excited to experience Jesus’ glory? Or are we gloomy when we listen to His message about suffering and the cross?
Jesus takes His disciples up a mountain to pray. During His prayer, Jesus changes – becoming radiant and glorious. He is joined by Moses and Elijah and, although the three are “in glory,” the subject of their conversation is the forthcoming death of Jesus. As happens so often in the Gospel, the messages seem to be contradictory – death and glory sitting side by side.
The disciples are overcome by the experience – and who can blame them? Are we also overwhelmed by the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist? Do we make any resolution or commit to Jesus, like Peter did?
In fact, the Eucharist is another mountain-top experience where God’s glory is revealed to us. But we can’t stop here. We have to go out and continue our journey of faith, going toward Jerusalem with Jesus to suffer and even die to ourselves in order to be transformed into God’s glory.
During this Lenten Season, we are called to reflect on the suffering of the Lord Jesus. We should gaze on Him because His Sonship will give us the courage to bear our own crosses: “From the cloud, the voice from God the Father: “This is My Son, the chosen One, listen to Him.”
Let us together make every effort to follow Jesus closely. Lent gives us the opportunity to become better followers of Christ in word and deed. Let us especially see through our earthly sufferings and crosses the glory of God and the fulfillment of His promise for those who trust and follow Him faithfully. The Kingdom of God is coming …
With love,
Fr. Thuong Hoai Nguyen