Fr. John Ryan

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

4th March 2007

In the accounts of the Transfiguration we see Peter, James and John accompany Jesus to the top of the mountain where they experience something special. They get a glimpse of Jesus in glory. The wonder of the moment is not lost on them - after all, Peter wishes to prolong the experience and stay there. Jesus however recognises the need to return and face what the future will bring. Conscious of what he has to endure in Jerusalem, he steadfastly turns toward it, letting the moment of glory go so that the redemptive moments of suffering and death are experienced.
The Transfiguration account can inspire us in different ways. Exploring the richness of the experience can lead us on to many insights into Christ, ourselves and the relationship we are called to have with him. One fact that strikes me very much at this time is the importance of embracing all that comes our way. Jesus knew what had to be done to fulfil the mission given to him and he resolutely sets about embracing it all. The moments of glory and the moments of suffering are equally valid and important. For us too we must see the validity of living all aspects of faith and what they entail.
It would be very easy indeed if the practice of the faith was merely about the easy way. However like everything that is important to us we must accept the responsibilities that go with it as well as the wonderful times. Celebrating days like baptism, first holy communion, confirmation, wedding days and ordination days are very easy. Living our lives according to what those days mean is a lot more challenging. To accept the faith in the sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist - means we are linked intimately to Jesus, proclaiming our faith in him as Son of God who becomes flesh, nourishes us with his Body and Blood, sends the gift of the Spirit and reconciles us with the Father. Expressing that is not merely done in stating 'I do' to our baptismal promises, half-heartedly attending Mass on Sundays (while watching the clock to see how long it takes), routinely outlining the same sins we confessed at our first confession but is fully realised in living according to the teaching of Jesus and his Church, making our choices and decisions in accordance to those teachings, growing in knowledge of God through scripture, prayer and focused attention on the celebration of the liturgy while remaining constantly open to the needs of the vulnerable in society granting them the protection and help they need.
Our faith is not something reserved for the moments of glory or for the half hour we are willing to sacrifice. Our faith is something which should fire the engine of our lives - it should be something which empowers us to live in the world while not being one with it - it should help us to live with our hearts focused on the true homeland which is heaven. Faith is continuous - it is 24 hours a day, seven days a week and so on. Faith is not a compartment of our lives but should be the central premise of how we live our lives and moments of faith expression should come first in our busy timetables and not find themselves slotted in when most convenient or left out because they are not convenient at all.
When faith expression is reduced to the convenient we lose the sense of Jesus Christ's call to commitment to the spiritual reality of God and the relationship with God that we are called to have.