The transfiguration of Christ is a message of light and of fire. The Church carries it within itself, and today it is confided to every assembly, to every believer. When this message seems to be obscured or concealed the Spirit brings us back toward the beloved Son of the Father. And Jesus lifts us, heals us from fear and leads us to his Passover.
T he Liturgy of the Word first evokes Abraham, on whom God focuses his great desire of blessing; yet he does not appear at the transfiguration, where God himself indicates as the Beloved son the one who Abraham saw was born. Peter, James and John discover who their master is. At the end of this manifestation, Jesus approaches them, touches them and says to them, "Get up and do not be afraid! ".
braham leaves his country and his family for good.He says nothing. The account brings to our attention the A divine "blessing" that is to come. We understand. From the beginning of sacred history which starts with Abraham, God reveals his project: to bless all nations. His people will have no other mission than to cooperate with the divine plan.
W e often wonder why God chose a particular people. This psalm gives us the reason. God loves the whole world, all peoples, he wants everyone’s happiness. That is why, it is not a privilege for a people to be chosen by God to become his people, it is a responsibility.
T he second letter to Timothy, in its own way, joins the text from Genesis and the Psalm that have been proclaimed. God has a "project". His grace "has today become visible to our eyes." It deploys the blessing confided to Abraham. The vocation of the disciples is to announce this Gospel everywhere and to all.
T The voice from the cloud reiterates the same words as at the time of Jesus’ baptism. However, the voice adds: "Listen to him! "The disciples will now accompany Jesus toward Jerusalem, toward the crucifixion. That will not be easy for them. For Easter to reveal the infinite significance of these words, one must have carried the cross.
Lord Jesus, glory and suffering, power and weakness, marked your passage among us. " Lead us to the Father, transform our lives," let us discover your face, that face today radiant but soon disfigured, the face of the servant in whom God reveals himself, the face of the Son who offers himself to save us, and tomorrow the face of the Resurrected. Amen.