The Fourth Luminous Mystery

The Transfiguration

By May/June 2009

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Seeing the Divine

“As they looked on, a change came over Jesus, and his clothes became shining white...the three disciples saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus...a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow, and a voice came from the cloud, ‘This is my own dear Son—listen to him!’” Mark 9:2-7

Reflection

In exactly the middle of his Gospel, Mark recounts this special moment. Jesus reveals the meaning of his mission. He leads John, James, and Peter up a mountain where they witness a spectacular and awe-inspiring transformation: Jesus is transfigured before them, in brilliant light. They see him talk­ing with Moses and Elijah: Jesus represents both the Law of Moses—the Torah—and the voice of the prophets, like Elijah. Jesus will become what Moses and the prophets yearned for: the Messiah, the Anointed One, the one who will bring God’s peace and justice to humanity. The disciples hear God’s voice: “This is my own dear Son—listen to him!”

Peter wishes to remain on the mountain, build some tents, and stay in the pleasant dream-like situ­ation. But Jesus insists on walking down the moun­tain, returning to the people below, back to reality, to the poor and suffering. Once there, Jesus speaks of his future suffering and death, contrasting sharply with the transfiguration vision. Jesus realizes that to complete the work of the Law and the prophets, he must give up his own life.

Are there moments when I experience a trans­figuration, a moment of insight when I understand God’s plan for my life? Do I accept God’s invitation to listen to the voice of the Son? Am I tempted to stay in feel-good situations, or can I return to the nitty-gritty of reality in order to be a presence of love? Throughout the world, many persons give their lives for the cause of justice: how can I be in solidarity with peoples who are suffering?

Mission Call

Scarboro missioners witness many transfigurations, personal and com­munal. We call people to listen to Jesus’ voice, to seek moments of clarity in their lives, to discern God’s will. We hear Jesus speaking to us through these individuals and communities, calling us to greater commit­ment to mission. We encounter situations of confrontation and violence when people stand up for their rights. Jesus was persecuted by the author­ities until they eventually executed him. Many missionaries are persecuted and some become martyrs in witness to justice and peace.

As we pray, let us ask God to give us moments of transfiguration in our lives. We ask God for the grace to listen to Jesus, the Son. We remember those peoples struggling for justice and those who give up their lives for Jesus. We pray that the violence of war may be transformed into the secu­rity of peace. We pray for a particular friend undergoing a time of change.

Amazon Word

The Amazon’s vast region com­prises many small rivers and lakes. Local communities are concerned with overfishing. Commercial trawl­ers from big cities like Manaus often drag the lakes with large nets, leaving the local people without fish. Through the Church’s Land Pastoral Commis­sion, people have organized themselves to confront the commercial fishers, sometimes with ensuing physical conflict. The communities themselves are divided: in meetings all agree to a fish quota per family, yet one hears the complaint that “some guys are out there fishing secretly at night.” The transfiguration of fish resources means both discipline within the local com­munity and unity in protecting the fish supply from outside exploitation.

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