The Passion Leads to the Glory of the Resurrection
Scripture
Genesis 15:5-12,
Genesis 15:17-18,
Philippians 3:17-21,
Philippians 4:1,
Luke 9:28-36.
Dear sisters and brothers,
Now, let us listen to the gospel according to Saint Luke (Luke 9:28-36):
“Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.”
Reflection
We often experience the meaninglessness of life.
We have doubts.
We have temptations like the first week of Lent.
We have questions.
Where is God?
Why was I born?
When is my death?
Where do we go after our death?
Why do good people experience bad things in their lives?
Where is God when there is war?
Where is God when there is suffering?
Where is God when there is an incurable sickness?
Where is God when my parents died in the accident?
Where is God when I lost my job during the pandemic?
Where is God when I lost my beloved with Corona virus?
Many of these people, who question without any spiritual experience, end up giving up their faith.
Human mind is always in search of meaning of life.
Think of people who are traumatized by their experience of social injustice.
Think of people who experience only discrimination (Race, Caste and Creed).
Deserving people do not get a job.
People, who are less qualified get the jobs because they have the right connections.
We see people advancing in society through unfair means.
Sometimes, life seems very hard on us and we ask:
Where is God?
Or
You may know of someone undergoing personal and family crisis.
You may know of someone who is with a terminal illness.
You may know of someone who breaks down due to strained relationship between husband and wife.
You may know of someone who separates a parent and a child.
You may know of someone who divides good friends.
Do we not sometimes feel like the whole world is collapsing on our heads?
At times like these, we need to go up to the mountain of prayer like the disciples along with Jesus to experience the Glory of the Resurrection.
At times, we need to beseech God, to open our eyes, so that we may see the eternal world in our earthly world.
When God grants us a glimpse of eternity, then we shall realize that all our troubles in this life are short-lived.
Then we will have the courage to accept the meaninglessness our lives.
Then we will have the acceptance of sufferings of this life.
Knowing that, through all our meaninglessness and suffering, God is on our side.
In other words, all it takes is a little glimpse of heaven, to strengthen us, to take up our daily crosses in our lives.
It encourages us to follow Jesus categorically, knowing that the cross of Lent is followed by the victory of Easter.
It may not be easy for:
Those people who have experienced the scandalous lives.
Those people who have deep-rooted individualism.
Those people who have insensitivity towards the needy people.
But…but…
It is possible for those people, who are open to the Spirit.
It is possible for those people, who have a heart to listen to the Son, Jesus.
It is possible for those people, who have a heart to nourish His Word inwardly.
It is possible for those people, who have a spiritual sight to make themselves pure.
?It is possible for those people, who is ready to cleanse themselves of their faults.
It is possible for those people, who is willing to sanctify their faithful body and their mind.
It is possible for those people, who may have an opportunity to witness His Glory in their lives.
No matter what happens, we are now sure of one thing:
God is on the side of Jesus.
God is on the side of the Disciples.
God is on the side of each one of us.
We may look weak on our life journey but final victory will be His.
Today, God makes a covenant with us as He made with Abraham, his faithful servant (Genesis 15:5-12, Genesis 15:17-18).
Let us be faithful to Him in our mountain of suffering, pain, difficulty, financial crisis, broken relationship, so that God gives us glimpses of heaven through all of them.
Yes, dear sisters and brothers,
Christ will change our lowly body to conform with his glorious body (Philippians 3:17-21, Philippians 4:1).
Our mortal nature will turn into Divine nature if we are ready and eager to listen to the beloved Son, Jesus, in our journey of life.
Yes, the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection.
May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen…
