20th March, 2011 Second Sunday of Lent - A
In the gospel, we are told that Jesus shone like pure light… and the aspect of his face we changed….
In the Old Testament, we hear of Moses’ face shining with light after praying to God.
In the case of Jesus, the transfiguration reveals what was the case all the time, but not always obvious…. That Jesus is truly God and truly human. And that his glory as God would be revealed again in and through his suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. It is also important to note that if we are to accept Jesus’ glorification, we must also accept the advice that went along with it… the voice from heaven tells us : “this is my Son. I am well pleased with him. Listen to him.” And we must also do what he tells us to do; (to live as he has taught us).
In the case of Moses, his shining face is slightly different.. unlike Jesus.. (whose light comes from within… its his inner nature)… Moses’ shining face is a reflected light. He radiates the joy and glory of God by reflecting that glory that he himself has experienced in his encounter with God; in his worship of God.
Even though these scriptural moments are exceptional and in many ways unique moments… I truly believe that we Christians can (in a sense) shine with the light of Christ in us…. We have received the light of Christ at our baptism… we are children of the Light…. We carry the light of Christ to all we meet….
We are called to shine that light for all to see, so that people can in turn worship God, the source of that light…
We have seen, throughout the generations, people whose lives have been truly transfigured by God’s love and grace…. They are people we have known who truly shine with God’s love and graciousness…. People who certainly do seem to radiate God’s love, forgiveness, compassion and kindness….. their faces almost literally shine…
And its not just a case of youth or health or good fortune that might be the source of this inner glow.. this radiating love…. I have met.. and I am sure you have too.. people who shine out with God’s love even though age, extreme ill health and misfortune are very much part of their daily lives… it is nothing short of a miracle.. and it is truly God’s grace that shines out….
Sadly, we have probably all come across some who do not radiate this light.. this grace… (who knows but God what is going on in their lives, perhaps that light is shining brightly deep down and we mere humans can’t see it… but God can always see it.. and kindle it….)…..… but we pray for those we see in this situation, who do not (by their actions, their attitudes, their behaviour) radiate the light and love of Christ to those they meet. Again it is not necessarily related to health or fortune…. There have been some very healthy, fortunate and comfortable people who sadly seem to radiated almost a gloomy, self-focused, almost stingy persona…. / while others whom people think have nothing to be positive about can nevertheless inspire us with such graciousness and care.. that it lights up our day..// You may have even met a person you knew after many years absence, only to notice that they are now ‘different’ but not always in a good way.. they seem less glowing… more self-absorbed… more gloomy…. (its almost as thought their journey to wholeness and fullness of personhood that God calls us to… has gone backwards…….)…… (and I am not speaking of those who bravely battle debilitating illness or depression or physical or other conditions)….. rather… It’s as though they have gone down the wrong path, perhaps even following a priority or an indulgence that at the time seemed attractive.. only to find (or perhaps not even realise themselves) that it was a dead end… and instead of turning back… they seem to pitch their tent and stay there… almost desperately scratching whatever they can for themselves but radiating grimness/ the light of Christ’s love and service seem hard to fathom….
It is never too late for us to turn back from dead-end paths…. To connect deeply with Christ, the source of our light and joy….. to turn away from all that is a false source of true and lasting wholeness, joy and fulfilment.
May this lent enlighten all of us, so that we may, no matter what our situation, radiate God’s love and light to all … / May the light of Christ expose all those dark and false areas of our life that absorb us and lead us away from the true source of fulfilment… (which is always God’s love and sacrificing service)……
After all, this is our calling, this is the gift God gives to us…. And this is our final destiny… to be with God, in Jesus, who is light from light!!!
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REFERENCES:
<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>FR. PAUL W. KELLY
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