March 16, 2003 – 2nd Sunday in Lent

Today we hear of the Transfiguration of Christ in the gospel. A more technical term is “Theophony” that is an appearance of God to an individual person. There are several appearances in scripture, e.g. Moses (Exod:19 ff) and Elijah (1Kings 19).

 

Four elements are usually included in each reporting.

1.      Mountain - customarily on a mountain.

  1. Witnesses  - Others may see and hear something beyond the central person
  2. Signs -Witnesses report visible signs –e.g. Jesus “garments glistening, intensely white"
  3. Shared experience - The witnesses sometimes share in the experience. Peter, James, and John see Moses and Elijah con­versing with Jesus.

 

We could ask, “What is the purpose of this experience. The person involved is called to a new role and status. The Baptism of Jesus was a Theophane, and from it Jesus preached the Kingdom of God and worked great signs.

 

What is the meaning of this for us?  Here we could look at "an experience of alter­nate reality," or an altered state of consciousness. This is a very widespread phenomenon. (noted in ninety percent of 488 societies studied) There is a story of a fifth century abbot of a monastery. When he was asked by a visitor whether the monks “see anything of your God”.  When the answer was negative the visitor from another monastery replied they lived the same lifestyle. He added our God hides nothing from us but re­veals his mysteries to us: he wondered if the monks were putting an obstacle in God's way.

 

If we take this episode of Christ’s life and take on the challenge in our scientifically oriented western society, then we can have our own Lenten prayer.” Lord God, help me to see you face to face as did Jesus and his disciples. We can be inspired in the midst of our own troubles to carry on as did Jesus.

 

One of the Three Lenten pillars (Fasting, Prayer, and Giving of Alms) is especially important at this time.  The Annual Bishop’s Appeal (ABA) is an extension of our care to the special people helped by programs here in the diocese. We who see Christ are encouraged in our Lenten practices and also become more aware of how we are united through our Catholic, Bishop Henry to the larger society of our city and country.

Fr. Bruce Schute