The gospel today is certainly beautiful, holy and profound. The other two readings are very small, without a lot of substance but that is good, because the gospel reading is not diluted by our focus on other, less significant things. The first reading for mass from the book of Genesis, describes the plans that God had for Abram. It says that, “Abram went as the Lord directed him.” That is the same thing that happened with Christ’s disciples in the gospel today too. Jesus revealed his divine nature to his disciples because he had some pretty major plans for them too, after his death. Jesus told his disciples to not disclose what they had seen until after his death, and that is exactly what they did.
In the second reading for mass from the second letter of Timothy, Saint Paul writes, “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design.” In hindsight, Saint Paul realized that Jesus had plans for him and for his disciples, long before any of them understood what they were. Jesus had a plan for their lives all along. People who are not Christians believe they direct their own lives, and for the most part they do, but even non-believers can serve Jesus’ purpose. Just look at Judas. Jesus and his Father both, simply acknowledge what a person already is, and take them into consideration in their plans. Even our sins can sometimes serve God’s plan for our lives. That may or may not be a good thing for us. Judas ended up hanging himself because of his sin, but Jesus found merit even in Saint Paul’s sin of persecuting the early Christians. Jesus turned his persecution into zeal for him, and Saint Paul had nothing to do with it. It was all Christ’s doing.
All of this leads us right into today’s gospel:
What a profoundly holy, life altering experience this must have been for Peter, James and John to have witnessed Christ’s transfiguration. Can you imagine how they must have felt? Can you imagine yourself in this scene? One day we may see Jesus in all of his glory in heaven, with his face shining like the sun and his clothes as white as light. Will we fall prostrate, face down on the ground, when we encounter the living God in heaven too?
Saint Peter, James and John literally witnessed heaven on earth and the true nature of who Jesus Christ was. Not only that, but they came in contact with God Himself! God Himself spoke to them, while they were still living on this earth. What privileged men they were. Jesus told them one time that many kings and prophets had longed to see him and did not, and yet they did. The thing to remember about Christ’s disciples though, is that they were not necessarily any holier or better than other men at first. Jesus needed to establish his new church on earth and he needed disciples to spread the good news of his resurrection. Jesus chose his apostles to do this, but they were not without flaws as human beings. It was not by their own merit they were chosen for this task.
Jesus gave Peter, James and John this vision of him as he would one day appear in heaven. He allowed them to see Moses and Elijah who were alive and not dead. Jesus talked with them right in front of Peter, James and John so they would know for sure that eternal life is real. Heaven is real. Moses and Elijah acknowledged Jesus right in front of them. They recognized him. They knew who he was. God Himself acknowledged Jesus to be His son and commanded his disciples to listen to him. There could have been no greater proof the disciples could have wanted, that Jesus Christ truly was the messiah, the son of God. They would need this certainty etched deeply in their hearts, an unshakable foundation that all future testimony about Jesus Christ would be built upon.
Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone what had happened until after his death. He was preparing his disciples for his approaching death, but the disciples could not have know that at the time. Little did they know that Jesus had some pretty big plans for their lives. He prepared them a little at a time, for what was to come, so that the task would not seem to be too great a task for them to follow through with.
Jesus has been preparing each of us for a particular reason, a particular purpose, whether that is large or small. He has plans for our lives too. No two tasks are the same, just like each apostle lived out their lives in a similar, but different manner from one another. We live good, holy lives when we live out our vocation. Our vocation is the main way we live out the purpose for our lives. However, like Mother Teresa, we sometimes are called to a vocation within a vocation.
Is there something in your life that has been nagging you in the back of your mind for a while? Something you’ve always wanted to do, or feel called to do but keep putting it off? This Lent might be a good time to examine this a little more closely. Bring it out in the open and address it. In all three of the readings for mass today, Abrahm and Christ’s disciples did as they were directed to do. We may not hear God speaking to us directly from heaven, or see Jesus standing right in front of us telling us what to do, but the Holy Spirit speaks to us deeply inside of our heart, our mind and our soul. The nagging feeling we can’t get rid of. The challenge is to listen and do something about it.
Sunday Mass Readings:
Genesis 12:1-4a / Psalm 33:4-5,18-19,20,22 / 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 / Matthew 17:1-9
