Second Sunday of Lent 2016

Each year, the gospel text for the second Sunday of Lent is the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. "His face shone like the sun and his face became as white as light." This unexpected experience overwhelmed Peter, James and John whom Jesus had brought with him onto the mountain to pray. "They fell prostrate and were very much afraid."  John's gospel does not include an account of the transfiguration. There is, however, an account of Phillip asking Jesus to, "... show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." (Jo14:8) Obviously, they are struggling with who Jesus really is, - a sign would help. As the saying goes, "seeing is believing." Do we not ourselves, in our efforts to have an understanding faith, wish for even a little "sign" to help us. Actually, God is pleased to give us many, many signs. Our problem is in reading the signs God gives. When John the Baptist's disciples ask Jesus about his identity, he responded by offering the signs he manifested. “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them." (Lk 7:21) "By their fruits you shall know them." If we are looking for signs, we need to be looking here - not in religious rhetoric and  claims, rather in the Works of Faith. Do you need confirmation that your faith is on the right track, then look at your own Works of Mercy, or the lack of. As we saw in the previous post, they are the criteria by which we will be judged. - "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. MERCY triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.   But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless … For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:14ff The Transfiguration confirms that Jesus does indeed share in the glory of the Father. And now the Father speaks to us.  "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." Today, Jesus speaks to us through the prophetic voice he has given to the Church. His servant Pope Francis, is calling out to all of us. . . . . . .  BE MERCIFUL! Are we listening? Then let us show it by our Works of Mercy.

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Additional Links:

• Fr. Thomas Rosica - The Hidden Glory of Mount Tabor

• From the Lenten Series - [... Part Four ...]