Today, we hear about the transfiguration of Jesus on the Mount Tabor.
There it is said that, the face of Jesus shone like the sun.
In the Old Testament, we read a similar passage:
The Prophet Moses had the same experience.
He remained forty days and forty nights on the mountain with Yahweh.
There he talked with God.
And when he came to the people, they could not look it,
because “his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord“.
We read so in Exodus 34, 29b.
Now in the New Testament, we see Jesus. But he had not a long time conversation with God. However, he experienced the same thing:
Then it is not the time but the intensity of the relationship with God, important: teaches the Gospel.
The evangelist describes: “and his garments became white as snow”:
We believe that the relationship with God works especially within the soul. But it also has some external effects.
Who inwardly so “shines”, can also outwardly “shine”.
We see Moses and Elijah, they speak with Jesus:
They were strong people, and had been so close to God.
They had had wonderful experience of God but it also caused to suffer much. Now they stand together with Jesus and give the moral support for his future suffering.
Then he should not, as Peter says, remain there at the top.
Yes, it was pleasant there;
they were protected in the height of Mount Tabor.
But Jesus did not come to live in the shelter.
His mission is down there.
Moses and Elijah encouraged him in his difficult time.
Last week we heard about the temptation of Jesus in the desert.
If we understand today's Gospel, then we can say:
that was not the end of the temptations.
Then here in today's Gospel, they are still continued: may be in another way.
Then this is also a temptation to search only for “the beautiful and pleasant places”.
This is also a temptation, “where one forgets his duties and looks for one’s own protection”.
Jesus overcomes this “temptation” just as before. He overcomes them with proper action. That is done by accepting the will of God. That was his will.
Yes, he descends to the hour of his suffering and death.
He is sure to climb once again a mountain ... the Golgotha;
but that is not for himself… But to help others...
The Gospel says clearly:
We too can undergo some “Transfigurations” in our lives.
Perhaps through our prayer life...
Perhaps through a good friendship ...
Then certain proximities and nearness can transform us.
Both internally and externally;
Both Spiritual and material…
This Lent is an invitation to this “Transfigurations”:
it invites us to come closer to God.
it invites us to receive his light in our lives ...
Let us make use of the blessed time.
God bless us all. Amen!
---
Fr Thomas Kalathil
There it is said that, the face of Jesus shone like the sun.
In the Old Testament, we read a similar passage:
The Prophet Moses had the same experience.
He remained forty days and forty nights on the mountain with Yahweh.
There he talked with God.
And when he came to the people, they could not look it,
because “his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord“.
We read so in Exodus 34, 29b.
Now in the New Testament, we see Jesus. But he had not a long time conversation with God. However, he experienced the same thing:
Then it is not the time but the intensity of the relationship with God, important: teaches the Gospel.
The evangelist describes: “and his garments became white as snow”:
We believe that the relationship with God works especially within the soul. But it also has some external effects.
Who inwardly so “shines”, can also outwardly “shine”.
We see Moses and Elijah, they speak with Jesus:
They were strong people, and had been so close to God.
They had had wonderful experience of God but it also caused to suffer much. Now they stand together with Jesus and give the moral support for his future suffering.
Then he should not, as Peter says, remain there at the top.
Yes, it was pleasant there;
they were protected in the height of Mount Tabor.
But Jesus did not come to live in the shelter.
His mission is down there.
Moses and Elijah encouraged him in his difficult time.
Last week we heard about the temptation of Jesus in the desert.
If we understand today's Gospel, then we can say:
that was not the end of the temptations.
Then here in today's Gospel, they are still continued: may be in another way.
Then this is also a temptation to search only for “the beautiful and pleasant places”.
This is also a temptation, “where one forgets his duties and looks for one’s own protection”.
Jesus overcomes this “temptation” just as before. He overcomes them with proper action. That is done by accepting the will of God. That was his will.
Yes, he descends to the hour of his suffering and death.
He is sure to climb once again a mountain ... the Golgotha;
but that is not for himself… But to help others...
The Gospel says clearly:
We too can undergo some “Transfigurations” in our lives.
Perhaps through our prayer life...
Perhaps through a good friendship ...
Then certain proximities and nearness can transform us.
Both internally and externally;
Both Spiritual and material…
This Lent is an invitation to this “Transfigurations”:
it invites us to come closer to God.
it invites us to receive his light in our lives ...
Let us make use of the blessed time.
God bless us all. Amen!
---
Fr Thomas Kalathil
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