The Gift of God

Third Sunday of Lent

 It-Tielet  Ħadd tar-Randan  -  Sena ‘ A’  2017

Ġesu' Kristu:  Ilma li jaqta' l-Għatx                                       

Messalin A pp 143

Reading 1                    

exodus 17:3-7

In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst  with our children and our livestock?” So Moses cried out to the LORD,  “What shall I do with this people? a little more and they will stone me!” The LORD answered Moses, “Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel,  holding in your hand, as you go,  the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it  for the people to drink.”  This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel. The place was called Massah and Meribah,  because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD in our midst or not?”

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ktieb ta' l-Eżodu 17, 3-7

F'dak iż-żmien, il-poplu qabdu l-għatx, u gemgem kontra Mose' u qal: "Għalfejn tellajtna hawn mill-Eġittu biex toqtol lilna, lil uliedna u lill-bhejjem tagħna bil-għatx?" Mose' għajjat quddiem il-Mulej u qal: "X'se nagħmel lil dan il-poplu?  Ftit ieħor u jħaġġruni."  Il-Mulej qal lil Mose':  "Għaddi minn quddiem il-poplu, u hu miegħek xi wħud mix-xjuħ ta' Iżrael.  Ħu miegħek il-ħatar li bih kont drabt ix-xmar tan-Nil, u mur. Arani, jien noqgħod hemm quddiemek, fuq il-blat f'Ħoreb; u int aħbat il-blat u toħroġ minnu ilma, u jixrob il-poplu." U Mose' għamel hekk  quddiem ix-xjuħ ta' Iżrael. U l-post semmewh Massa u Meriba,  għax hemm tlewmu  wlied Iżrael u  ġarrbu lill-Mulej meta qalu: "Il-Mulej fostna jew le?" Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

           

Responsorial Psalm 

ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.                                              

R/ (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.        

R/ (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”                    

R/ (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Salm Responsorjali                                                                                        

Salm 94(95)

Ejjew, ħa nfaħħru bl-hena lill-Mulej,

ħa ngħajtu bil-ferħ lill-blata tas-salvazzjoni tagħna!

Ersqu quddiemu b'għana ta' radd il-ħajr,

ngħannulu b'għajat ta' ferħ.                                                       

R/  Illum jekk tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom

Ejjejw inqimuh u ninxteħtu quddiemu,

għarkobbtejna quddiem il-Mulej li ħalaqna!

Għaliex hu Alla tagħna,

u aħna l-poplu tal-mergħa tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tiegħu.                   

R/  Illum jekk tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom

Mhux li kontu llum tisimgħu leħnu!

"La twebbsux qalbkom bħal f'Meriba

bħal dakinhar f'Massa, fid-deżert,

meta ġarrbuni u ttantawni missirijietkom;

għalkemm raw dak li jien għamilt.                                               

R/  Illum jekk tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom

reading 2                    

romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Brothers and sisters: Since we have been justified by faith,  we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith  to this grace in which we stand,  and we boast in hope of the glory of God. And hope does not disappoint,  because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless,  died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ittra ta' San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani 5, 1-2. 5-8

Ħuti, issa li aħna ġġustifikati fil-fidi, għandna s-sliem ma' Alla permezz ta' Sidna Ġesu' Kristu;  permezz tiegħu għandna d-dħul bil-fidi għal din il-grazzja li fiha qegħdin. Aħna niftaħru bit-tama li għand li għad niksbu l-glorja ta' Alla. U din it-tama ma tqarraqx bina, għax  l-imħabba ta' Alla ssawbet  fi qlubna permezz ta' l-Ispirtu s-Santu li kien mogħti lilna.  Mela, meta aħna konna bla saħħa, Kristu,   meta wasal iż-żmien,  miet għall-ħżiena.  Bilkemm wieħed imut għal wieħed tajjeb,  għad li wieħed għandu mnejn jagħmel il-qalb u jmut għal wieħed  ġeneruż. Iżda Alla wriena l-imħabba tiegħu meta Kristu miet għalina,  aħna li konna għadna midinbin.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                  

john 4:5-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her,  “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”  —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.— Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him,  “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;  where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob,  who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself  with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her,  “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;  but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;  the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty  or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her,  “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands,  and the one you have now is not  your husband.  What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;  but your people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her,  “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. Your people worship what you do not understand;  we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here,  when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;  and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one  called the Christ;  when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her,  “I am he, the one speaking with you.” At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman,  but still no one said, “What are you looking for?”  or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar  and went into the town and said to the people,  “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?” They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another,  “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment  and gathering crops for  eternal life,  so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for;  others have done the work,  and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”  Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified,  “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them;  and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word,  and they said to the woman,  We no longer believe because of your word;  for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world.”

L-Evanġelju

Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Ġwann 6, 4,5-42

F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' ġie f'belt tas-Samarija, jisimha Sikar, qrib il-biċċa art li Ġakobb kien ta lil ibnu Ġużeppi, fejn hemm ukoll il-bir ta' Ġakobb.  Kien għall-ħabta tas-sitt siegħa, u Ġesu',  għajjien kif kien mill-mixi, qagħad bilqegħda ħdejn il-bir.   U ġiet mara mis-Samarija timli l-ilma.  Ġesu' qalilha: "Agħtini nixrob."   Id-dixxipli tiegħu kienu marru l-belt jixtru x'jieklu.   Il-mara mis-Samarija qaltlu:  "Kif!  Inti Lhudi u titlob lili,  Samaritana,  biex  nagħtik tixrob?"  Qaltlu hekk għax il-Lhud ma jitħalltux mas-Samaritani. Ġesu' weġibha:  "Kieku kont taf id-don ta' Alla u  min hu dak li qiegħed jgħidlek:"Agħtini nixrob,"  kieku int kont titolbu, u hu kien jagħtik ilma ħaj." Qaltlu l-mara: "Sinjur, mnejn se ġġib l-ilma ħaj  jekk anqas biex timla  ma għandeku l-bir huwa fond?   Jaqaw int aqwa minn missierna Ġakobb  li tana dan il-bir, li minnu xorob hu l-wliedu u l-imrieħel tiegħu?"

Weġibha Ġesu':  "Kull min jixrob minn dan l-ilma jerġa' jagħtih l-għatx; imma min jixrob mill-ilma li nagħtih jien qatt iżjed ma jkun bil-għatx. l-ilma li nagħtih jien isir fih għajn ta' l-ilma li jwassal sal-ħajja ta' dejjem." Qaltlu l-mara:  "Agħtini dan l-ilma, Sijur, biex ma jaqbadnix l-għatx u  anqas ma noqgħod ġejja u sejra hawn nimla l-ilma.   Qalilha Ġesu':  "Mur sejjaħ lil żewġek u erġa' ejja hawn." Weġbitu l-mara:   "Ma għandix  żewġi."   Qalilha Ġesu':  "Sewwa għedt: 'Ma għandix  żewġi.'  Inti żżewwiġt ħames darbiet, u r-raġel li  għandek  miegħek bħalissa m'huwiex żewġek.  Sewwa weġibt!" Qaltlu l-mara:  "Inti profeta, Sinjur, milli qiegħda nara.  Missirijietna  kienu jaduraw lil Alla fuq din il-muntanja; imma intom tgħidu li l-post  fejn wieħed jadura lil Alla jinsab f'Ġerusalemm."  Qalilha Ġesu:    "Emminni, mara, jiġi żmien meta mhux  fuq din il-muntanja taduraw  lill-Missier, anqas f'Ġerusalemm.  Intom taduraw lil dak li ma tafux,  aħna naduraw lil dak li nafu, għax is-salvazzjoni  gejja mill-Lhud. Imma tiġi siegħa, anzi issa hi, meta dawk li tassew jaduraw  jibdew  jaduraw lill-Missier fl-ispirtu u l-verita'.    Għax il-Missier ukoll nies bħal  dawn ifittex li jadurawh.   Alla huwa spirtu, u dawk li jadurawh għandhom   jadurawh fl-ispirtu u fil-verita."  Qaltlu l-mara: " Jiena naf li ġej il-Messija – dak li jgħidulu Kristu.  Meta jiġi hu, kollox iħabbrilna."   Qalilha Ġesu': "Jien hu, li qiegħed nitkellem miegħek." Fil-ħin ġew id-dixxipli tiegħu, u stagħġbu jarjawh jitkellem ma mara;  iżda ħadd minnhom ma staqsieħ:  "Xi trid?"  jew  "Għax  qiegħed titkellem magħha?"Il-mara ħalliet il-ġarra hemmhekk, reġgħet daħlet il-belt u qalet lin-nies:"Ejjew araw bniedem li qalli kullma għamilt.  Tgħid, dan il-Messija?" U n-nies ħarġu mill-belt u ġew ħdejh. Sadattant id-dixxipli bdew jitolbuh u jgħidulu:  "Rabbi kul!"   Iżda hu  qalilhom:   "Jien għandi ikel x'niekol li intom ma tafux bih."  Id-dixxipli  għalhekk  bdew jistaqsu lil xulxin:  "Jaqaw ġie xi ħadd u ġieblu x'jiekol?"   Qalilhom Ġesu':   "L-ikel tiegħi hu li nagħmel ir-rieda ta' min bagħatni  u  li nwassal fit-tmiem l-opra tiegħu. Intom ma tgħidux li baqa' erba' xhur  oħra għall-ħsad?  Imma  araw x'ngħidilkom jien:  erfgħu għajnejkom u ħarsu ftit kif l-għelieqi bjadu għall-ħsad!  Ġa  l-ħassad qiegħed  jieħu ħlasu u jiġbor il-frott għall-ħajja ta' dejjem,  biex min jiżra' jifraħ hu wkoll bħal min jaħsad.  F'dan taraw kemm sewwa jingħad li wieħed jiżra' u l-ieħor jaħsad. Jiena bgħattkom taħsdu dak li ma tħabattux għalih intom; kienu oħrajn li tħabtu, u intom dħaltu flokhom biex tgawdu l-frott tat-taħbit tagħhom." "Kien hemm ħafna Samaritani minn dik il-belt li emmnu f'Ġesu' fuq ix-xhieda li tathom dik il-mara meta qaltilhom: "Qalli kull ma għamilt,"  tant, li meta  s-Samaritani ġew ħdejh, bdew jitolbuh biex jibqa' magħhom, u hu qagħad hemm jumejn.  Imbagħad ħafna oħrajn emmnu minħabba kliemu,u lill-mara qalulha: "Issa mhux għax għedtilna int qegħdin nemmnu, imma għax aħna wkoll  smajnieh, u sirna nafu li dan tassew hu s-salvatur tad-dinja."

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The Gift of God: The Encounter that quenches our thirst

A reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent by Julian Paparella, member of the editorial team of Fr Thomas Rosica’s “The Salt and Light TV” project.

We all have some part of us that we wish was different. Something in ourselves that we wish was otherwise. Often this part of us can be a source of shame, of fear, of regret, of embarrassment. It is something we wish would just go away, that we would rather never have to deal with. We wish it would change but somehow it does not. What can we do about it?

The Gospel reading for this Third Sunday of Lent (John 4:5-42) starts with an odd indication of time: "It was about noon." Jesus reaches a town in Samaria where there is a well that was built by Jacob the patriarch, the one who gave his son Joseph the coat of many colours. We are told that when Jesus arrives at the well it was about noon. Is this simply a clue to help us imagine the scene? Not exactly. In the time of Jesus, no one would go to the well at noon. Everyone was busy seeking cover from the midday heat. No one wanted to venture to the well, their water jug in tow, only to lug it back filled to the brim. One begins to sweat just thinking about it!

But Jesus arrives at noon. The well is deserted. He is tired and He sits down. A lone woman comes to draw water. She did not expect to see anyone at the well. It is precisely for this reason that she chose to come at this hour. What a surprise to find a man sitting there in the heat of the day. Jesus asks her for a drink. The question is off-putting: "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" Any self-respecting Jew wanted nothing to do with Samaritans in those days. Yet Jesus replies: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

The conversation that follows surpasses all of the woman's expectations and imaginings. It is the water that the woman seeks. Jesus knows about her five husbands. Jesus knows that the man she is with now is not one of them. Their encounter is so strong that in the heat of the day, the woman who just moments before wanted to remain hidden and unseen in her shame, leaves her water jar behind and runs back to her village exclaiming:  "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" Her testimony is so striking that the village people welcome Jesus in their homes and believe in Him.

What do we take from such an encounter? What is its impact on our journey through Lent and through life? We too thirst. We too have parts of our lives that make us ashamed, afraid, and leave us wanting. We are thirsty. Jesus comes to us in our thirst, in the parts of our lives where we need Him the most. He knows these places even before we say a word. He knows we are thirsty and longs to satisfy our thirst. Jesus comes to wipe away what fogs up the windshields of our lives. He is here to wash away the stains that we have sought to cover up. He is here to take our sin away from us and fill us with the water that satisfies. Jesus is the water that satisfies.

Jesus brings us something that cannot fit in a water jug. Jesus brings us the love of God. This Love encountered the woman at the well. It knew her whole life and wanted to liberate her from what fettered her most. It is a Love that longs to forgive us and set us free. Jesus speaks to us not as an infuriated judge, but as a friend sitting with us in the heat of high noon. This Friend has the answers we seek. He Himself is the living water that quenches our thirst. We can trust Him. We can speak to Him as a friend, as one who knows us and wants what is good for us.

The Gospel of the Samaritan woman is a challenge for us. We are called to take our cue from her. Go to Jesus. Speak to Him openly about your life. Let Him enter into the areas of fear, of shame, of worry and uncertainty. Do not be afraid. He is not here to judge. He knows we thirst. He is the water. He brings us the love of God. Jesus comes to us at noon. He meets us in the heat of the day to quench our thirst. Jesus wants to quench our thirst. Jesus knows we are thirsty. Jesus Himself is the living water that satisfies.

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You will be a blessing

                                 Second Sunday of Lent 

                 It-2 Ħadd tar-Randan Sena A

                 Messalin A pp 138

Reading 1      Genesis 12:1-4a

The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” Abram went as the LORD directed him. This is the Word of the Lord.

L:-Ewwel Lezzjoni

Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 12, 1-4a)

F'dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej qal lil Abram: "Qum u itlaq minn artek, minn art twelidek, u minn dar misierek, lejn l-art li jien nurik. U jien nagħmlek ġens kbir, inbierkek u nkabbarlek ismek, u int tkun barks. Jien inbierek lil minibierkek, u nisħet lil min jisħtek. U jitbierku bik it-tribujiet kollha ta' l-art." U telaq Abram kif kien qallu l-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm              
Psalm  33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

                   

Salm Responsorjali

Salm 32 (33) 

Sewwa hi l-kelma tal-Mulej,

kollox bil-fedelta' huwa għamel.

Hu jħobb id-dritt u s-sewwa;

bit-tjieba tal-Mulej mimlija l-art.             

R/  Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna.

Ara, għajnejn il-Mulej fuq dawk li jibżgħu minnu,

fuq dawk li jittamaw fit-tjieba tiegħu,

biex jeħilsilhom mill-mewt ħajjithom,

u jaħjihom fi żmien il-ġuħ.                                 

R/  Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna.

Ruħna tixxennaq għall-Mulej,

hu l-għajnuna u t-tarka tagħna,

Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna,

kif fik hi t-tama tagħna.                          

R/  Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna.

Reading 2                
2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest  through the appearance of our saviour Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  This is the Word of the Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni

Qari mit-Tieni Ittra ta' San Pawl lil Timotju 1, 8b-10

Għażiż, aqsam miegħi t-tbatija għall-Evanġelju, u afda fil-qawwa ta' Alla,  li salvana u sejħilna b'sejħa qaddisa,  mhux għax qies l-għemejjel tagħna, imma skond il-pjan tiegħu stess u skond  il-grazzja tiegħu. Din il-grazzja tahielna qabel iż-żmien ta' l-eternita fi Kristu Ġesu', imma dehret issa permezz tad-dehra tas-Salvatur tagħna Kristu Ġesu' li qered il-mewt,  u dawwal il-ħajja bla tmiem  permezz ta' l-Evanġelju. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                      

Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them;  his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here,  one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said,  “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes,  they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone  until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Evanġelju

Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 17, 1-9

F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' ħa miegħu lil Pietru u lil Ġakbu u lil ħuħ Ġwanni, tellagħhom fuq munanja għolja weħidhom,  u tbiddel quddiemhom.   Wiċċu sar jiddi bħax-xemx, u lbiesu sar abjad bħad-dawl.U dehrulhom Mose' u Elija jitħaddtu miegħu. Qaqbeż Pietru u qal lil Ġesu': "Mulej, kemm hu sew li aħna hawn!  Jekk trid intella' hawn tliet tined, waħda għalik, waħda għal Mose' u waħda għal Elija." Kif kien għadujitkellem, sħaba kollha dawl ħattiethom,u minn ġos-sħaba nstema' leħen jgħid:  "Dan hu Ibni l-għażiż, li fih sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi; isimgħu lilu." Id-dixxipli, kif semgħu dan, waqgħu wiċċhom fl-art, mimlijin biża'. Ġesu' resaq lejhom, messhom u qalilhom: "Qumu.  La tibżgħux."  Huma refgħu għajnejhom u ma raw lil ħadd ħlief lil Ġesu' waħdu. Huma u neżlin minn fuq il-muntanja, Ġesu' ordnalhom u qalilhom: "Tgħidu lil ħadd b'din id-dehra sa ma Bin il-bniedem ikun  qam mill-imwiet. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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A reflection by Julian Paparella :

The Destination illumines the Journey

What keeps us going through difficult times? 

What inspires our hope when the situation is bleak? 

What makes us persevere when it would be easier to give up?

In the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent, we see Jesus ascend Mount Tabor with His three closest disciples – Peter, James, and John. There He is transfigured before their eyes and they behold Him in all His glory. His face shines like the Sun; His clothes are dazzling white. It is hard to imagine how awesome this sight would be: witnessing the radiance of God!

What is the significance of such an event for us during this Lenten season? What is the significance of seeing the glory of Jesus before witnessing His agony in just a few weeks’ time? The transfiguration is a foretaste of the glory of God. It gives us a snapshot of the resurrection of Jesus that we prepare to celebrate. It shows us that Jesus is God. It reminds us that as we follow Jesus, we are not just following a man like any other, nor a wise teacher, nor even a great philosopher. Following Jesus we are truly following God.

The journey of following God is not always glorious. Peter, James, and John discover this as they experience this personally at the crucifixion of Jesus on Golgotha. A prisoner of his fear, Peter will deny even knowing Jesus. Standing at the foot of the Cross, John will see Jesus die a torturous death. James will desert Jesus the other apostles, nowhere to be found. What a cruel contrast there is between the brilliance of Tabor and the brutality of Golgotha. Did any of them remember what they experienced on the mountaintop?

                         

The transfiguration of Jesus shows us that there is something beyond the Cross. The glory that shone on Tabor calls us through the darkest moments to the destiny that lies beyond. The destination illumines the journey. We do not feel the same on our way to a funeral as we do on our way to redeem the winning lottery ticket. What we are heading towards changes our attitude, our outlook, our actions. What if our destination is heaven? What does it change in us if our destination is the glory of God that Peter, James, and John experienced on Mount Tabor? What if even as we experience the Cross, we are headed for glory?

So often we may take this as wishful thinking, or something taught in Sunday school for little children. But what if this is really where we’re going? What if this is not just an “opiate for the masses” or a happy thought but the true fulfillment of all our deepest hopes and longings? What if this is not just a fantasy we’ve made to make ourselves feel good, but the reason why we are here and what we were made for?

Like the soldier inspired by the hope of victory. Like the mother who labours through childbirth to receive the joy of her baby boy or girl. Like the Olympic medal spurs the athlete on to keep training, enduring, and keeping at it day in and day out. The victory of life is heaven. The labour of life is eternal joy. The medal is sharing in the glory of God. How would our lives changed we let this destination illumine our journey? How would Golgotha look differently if we remembered Tabor? Do we endure our own sufferings differently knowing that there is truly light at the end of the tunnel and if this light shines already here and now? Even on the rainiest day, the Sun still shines brightly above. Even in the darkest moment on earth, the glory of heaven shines brightly as ever.

If we are heading towards heaven, heaven will also break through into what we live here and now. The Kingdom of God is not only were we hope to end up eventually; it is the Reign of God that already wants to break through into our daily lives. It is the reign of peace, mercy, justice, compassion, unity, and love. It is all of us together as brothers and sisters with Jesus of our one true Father. It is the reign of taking care of one another and looking out for one another’s needs. It is the reign of bringing joy to one another, giving one another hope, and encouraging one another to persevere. Our destination shines light on the real trials and struggles that we face along the way. Heaven illumines how we live here on earth. 

The transfiguration of Jesus is the glory of God touching the lives of Peter, James, and John. It is a moment that reveals hope that endures even the darkness of the Cross. May we let this glory tough our lives. May our struggles be illumined by the hope that lies before us. How awesome it is to know, even in the midst of our own Golgothas, that the destination of our journey is the glory of God.

(This teaching was submitted by Julian Paparella, a member of the editorial team of Fr Thomas Rosica’s Salt & Light media)

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