FEASTING ON THE WORD
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Second Sunday of Lent (C)Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 | Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 | Philippians 3:17—4:1 | Luke 9:28b-36 Last Sunday, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil thrice but successfully resisted each test by using God’s Word. That desert encounter was a good reminder of how we must spiritually discipline ourselves through prayer, fasting and works of piety especially in this Season of Lent. Let us move on from that desert encounter as our Lord guide us to fully trust in his promises, discover our identities and climb down our "mountaintop experiences" to get to work and bless others. In 2016, the Philippines experienced dry spells brought on by El Niño effect. During this time of great drought, Mang Ambo, a rice farmer in Munoz, Nueva Ecija prayed for rain for his crops. As he went to the chapel in the afternoon, his daughter, Janina, said, “Here is the umbrella, Tatay.” “What do we need it for,” he asked. “You prayed for rain this morning, and don’t you expect God will send it?” They carried the umbrella, and when they came home they were glad to take shelter under it from the drenching storm. Because of the great faith Abram had shown in Him, God made him the human channel through which the world would see the outpouring of His redemptive plan. Abraham feels hopeless because he and his wife are childless. In our First reading, the Lord reassured Abraham that he would produce a son from his own body. And in the very next verse says, "Look now toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them...so shall your descendants be." Just a few verses later, God and Abraham begins their covenant with this telling phrase, "as the sun was going down”. Whaaaaaat?!! Yes, the sun has been shining throughout their previous dialog and is only now about to set as they make their covenant together! Yes, God brought Abraham outdoors during the day, while the sun was still shining, and told him: “count the stars, if you are able.” Who is able to count any stars during the daytime? Like Abraham’s yet-to-be-born descendants, the stars are completely invisible during day time. And yet, Abraham trusted God's promise. He trusted that, although he could not see the stars he knew were there behind the blue curtain of the sky, although his wife was old and barren, he believed that the Lord will give him a son. Even when you can not see the stars, they are there. Even when you cannot see the stars yet, trust that they are coming (promotion, health, children, jowa, big break, etc)! Indeed, God is faithful to his promises. Faith and trust in God will be rewarded. What's your identity? What's your citizenship? Summing up her life, Mother Teresa said, "By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus." She was indeed daughter of Albania, citizen of India, mother of the world, a Catholic Christian and citizen of heaven. When the apostle Paul wrote to the church of Philippi, he had as many identities as anyone else: he was a founding father of that congregation; he was writing to them from jail—imprisoned because of his beliefs; hero to some, heretic to others. Yet, in the midst of all his sufferings, the one identity he held onto —and the one identity he urged the church then and now to hold onto — was Christian. Lent is a season for us all to look back through our individual and communal lives’ journey and ask, "What’s my Identity, what's my citizenship?" Our citizenship is in heaven. A Catholic Christian's allegiance is not to this world but to heaven. As citizens of heaven, we must not merely pursue earthly desires. As citizens of heaven, we must stand firm and, at the end of the age, we will be transformed into the glory of Christ. Mountains are often used in the Bible as the stages of important encounters between God and his people. Noah’s ark landed at Mt. Ararat where he saw the rainbow of God’s promise. Abraham's obedience was tested at Mt. Moriah. Moses received the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Elijah proved to the people that God is the one true God at Mt. Carmel. Jesus delivered his famous Sermon on Mount Eremos. He was crucified on Mount Calvary and ascended to heaven from Mount Olivet. There is always something awe-inspiring about mountains. The top of a mountain is a natural place for encountering God. It's small wonder that many monasteries, seminaries, convents and retreat centers nowadays were built to sit on mountains and hills. Have you ever had such a mountain top experience in your faith? A time where God’s presence was so real and full, where you felt like you could reach out and touch God, where all of the problems in your life, all of the stresses, all of the suffering, seemed to melt away? Moments in life where you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God is good, that God loves you, that God is with you. Something that felt like a powerful euphoria, where all was well? Peter, James and John had had the ultimate mountaintop experience with the Lord on Mount Tabor. Before their eyes, the Jesus they had known and with whom they walked became transfigured. His countenance was radiant; his garments streaming with white light. At his side, enveloped in glory, stood Moses, the mighty liberator, who had led Israel out of slavery, and Elijah, the greatest of Israel’s prophets. The Transfiguration of Jesus might be described as one of Jesus' greatest moments. It might well have been a “greatest moment” in the lives of his disciples, Peter, James, and John as well. The disciples experienced such delight on Mount Tabor that they wanted to stay there. But God does not make the mountains in order to be inhabited. God does not make the mountaintops for us to live on the mountaintops. It is not God’s desire that we live on the mountaintops. The Holy Mass is our mountain-top experience. In the joy and consolation of encountering Jesus in Word and Bread, we say with Peter, “Oh Master, how good it is for us to be here!” And we do not want to leave. But it is not to be. Soon we will hear the words, “The Mass has been offered. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Let us be counted among those who listen to Christ’s Word and are transfigured by it. Be transformed by the Transfiguration and become agents of transformation. Let us climb down Mt. Tabor together and gladden the valleys below. Let us climb down Mt. Tabor together, pick up our crosses and leave to face our daily trials. Let us climb down Mt. Tabor together, get to work and bless others. As Saint Teresa of Calcutta taught, "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." <enrique,ofs>
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum Archives
March 2024
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