Thursday, August 8, 2019

Why the Transfiguration?








I have decided to suspend my blogging activities until further notice beginning with next week.  Please read this one to the end.

The Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration this past Tuesday, August 6.  As you may recall from Scripture, Jesus "was transfigured before them (Peter, James, and John), and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light."  (See Matthew 17:1-8).  Besides this, Moses and Elijah from the Old Testament appeared in this scene and were talking to Our Lord.  Peter was flabbergasted and could hardly put words together that made sense.  While shielding his eyes from the extreme brightness, he stated that he wanted to build three booths or tents, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

But before he was able to clarify himself, a "bright cloud overshadowed them" and a voice from within the cloud spoke, saying "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him."  At this point, the light was so bright and the voice so overwhelming that they "fell on their faces with awe."  But, then, just as suddenly and unexpectedly, everything was back to normal.

Have you ever wondered what prompted Jesus and his heavenly Father to display themselves like this?  What events led up to this fascinating show of divinity, both of Jesus and of God the Father? Well, this Transfiguration occurred shortly after Our Lord made a strong statement to Peter:  "Get behind me, Satan!  You are an obstacle to me.  You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."  (Matthew 16:23).  He was upset with Peter for not believing that Jesus would die and then rise again.  Apparently there was a need to bring Peter back to reality.  The Transfiguration accomplished that and then some.

Peter made reference to this event later, after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, as we noticed in the second reading from the Mass on August 6: 

"We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique delcaration came to him from the majestic glory, 'This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well-pleased.'  We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.  Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.  You will do well to be attentive, as a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.'"  (2 Peter 1:16-19).

Throughout the MTT blog weekly for the past 5+ years, I have tried to communicate the importance to being faithful to God and to his Church.  But with this one clear statement from St. Peter in his letter, my posted thoughts take a back seat.  Scripture stories are not cleverly devised myths.  Peter was an eyewitness!  Peter's takes ownership of the divine message and this message is altogether reliable, and here it is, spoken plainly by God himself:  "Listen to him."  It is important, as St. Peter says, to "be attentive."

I have posted my thoughts almost every Thursday since the fall of 2013.  That is approximately 300 posts.  This is my last.  But every now and then, Facebook recalls a memory that is a MTT post.  I will share it when that happens.  God bless you in your efforts to remain faithful to God in your life.


Thursday, August 1, 2019

That Word "Communion"


The word "communion" is one that is used in a number of different contexts in Catholic prayer and rituals.  People often refer to the Eucharist as Communion.  We celebrate a person's "First Holy Communion," for example, when he/she receives the Eucharist for the first time.  In addition, the priest/celebrant begins Mass with the words "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."  And, when we pray the Apostles' Creed, we state that we believe in the Communion of Saints.  What does it mean?

Webster's dictionary gives five different definitions, such as a "sharing" or a "participation," or "an intimate relationship with deep understanding" as well as a Catholic definition: "the sharing in or celebration of, the consecrated bread or wine of the Eucharist."  I  like the definition given in my Catholic dictionary because it seems to cover all the bases in Catholic contexts: "The most sacred expression for any one of different forms of togetherness." 

Togetherness ... in other words, a union, a unity, a spiritual closeness, a spiritual relationship, a spiritual intimacy.  That especially seems to fit with the use of the word with the Eucharist.  But the communion of the Holy Spirit?  The Communion of Saints?  Togetherness with the Holy Spirit?  Togetherness with the Saints?  Yes!

My Catholic dictionary has a definition of the Communion of Saints.  It is the unity and cooperation of the members of the Church on earth with those in heaven and in purgatory.  We profess the same faith, obey the same authority, and assist each other with prayers and good works.  We honor the saints in heaven as glorified members of the Church, request their intercession, and strive to imitate their virtue.  And we exhibit a togetherness and a cooperatioin with the souls in purgatory by praying for them, knowing that they will become saints.

All this togetherness gets the adrenaline flowing.  What a great gift we have in our faith!  Nurture it, love it, ask God to increase and protect it.  Amen!