This obsession with all things shiny is something that makes us like animals. If you've ever watched the show, "Finding Bigfoot" on the Discovery Channel then you know that Bigfoot LOVES shiny things! Bigfoot "hunters" who are trying to get conclusive proofs of his existence (what else do we need besides Roger Paterson's Video, right?!) typically hang shiny things, like CD's, near their cameras in the woods to draw the Bigfoot in.
Shiny things are also a very easy way to hunt a raccoon. In the book, "Where the Red Fern Grows," they stick shiny things in a log in between two nails, and when the raccoon grabs the shiny coin, and closes his tiny little fist, he can't pull his paw out from between the nails. Instead of letting go, the raccoon is so fixated by the shiny thing that he stays there and it is easy for the hunter to kill him. (if you haven't read this book, stop reading this and go check it out of your local library. Or perhaps buy it on your Kindle/iPad, whatever you do these days. But really, it is awesome. It actually made me cry.)
This attraction to shiny things is virtually universal. Even in Biblical times people loved shiny things. The Gospel today shows us that. Jesus goes up the mountain and is Transfigured in front of Peter, James and John. Luke relates that, "While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white." (There must be some joke about the Jesus being the first Stephanie Meyer vampire, but it is really difficult. Being that we are talking about Christ though, I will do my best to not trample upon His Holy Name.)
So when Jesus is Transfigured and dazzles before the three Apostles, Peter offers to build a tent for him. He says, "It is good that we are here, Master." The Transfiguration was a very clear presentation of Jesus Christ's Divinity. Peter was more than willing to be of assistance to Jesus during this time. But really, how many people would have been unwilling? I mean, hey, this guy Jesus is clearly very special, right? Here he is miraculously transformed and sparkling (again, no "Twilight" jokes). Maybe Peter thought he could get some sort of reward for being helpful. But like I said, how many of us would not leap at the opportunity to do something nice for someone who is clearly full of power?
And yet, it is not upon this mountain that Christ will manifest his Divinity most perfectly. It is on Calvary, when He is crucified for the sins of the world, that Jesus most perfectly manifests his Divinity. It is not the dying that shows us his Divinity, but rather the salvific nature of that death. What mere human could have saved mankind from their sins? Only Jesus Christ, God made man, could have done that. And yet ironically, at the moment of the most perfect example of his Divinity, there is no one there to offer help or assistance to Jesus. Like fair-weather friends, His Apostles had abandoned Him during the time of his greatest suffering.
As we begin the second week of Lent, let us not be fair-weather friends of Christ. Let us not be there for Him in His glory and flee from Him in His suffering. St. Paul says, "Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4). In order to receive the gift of life that Jesus Christ offers us, we must also share in His sufferings.
Let us re-commit ourselves to our Lenten sacrifice again this week. As Christ continues his fasting in the desert, let us also fast and unite our sacrifice to His, so that we might share in His eternal life. Let us share in the sacrifice of Calvary so that we might share in the glory of the Transfiguration.
God love you!
So when Jesus is Transfigured and dazzles before the three Apostles, Peter offers to build a tent for him. He says, "It is good that we are here, Master." The Transfiguration was a very clear presentation of Jesus Christ's Divinity. Peter was more than willing to be of assistance to Jesus during this time. But really, how many people would have been unwilling? I mean, hey, this guy Jesus is clearly very special, right? Here he is miraculously transformed and sparkling (again, no "Twilight" jokes). Maybe Peter thought he could get some sort of reward for being helpful. But like I said, how many of us would not leap at the opportunity to do something nice for someone who is clearly full of power?
And yet, it is not upon this mountain that Christ will manifest his Divinity most perfectly. It is on Calvary, when He is crucified for the sins of the world, that Jesus most perfectly manifests his Divinity. It is not the dying that shows us his Divinity, but rather the salvific nature of that death. What mere human could have saved mankind from their sins? Only Jesus Christ, God made man, could have done that. And yet ironically, at the moment of the most perfect example of his Divinity, there is no one there to offer help or assistance to Jesus. Like fair-weather friends, His Apostles had abandoned Him during the time of his greatest suffering.
As we begin the second week of Lent, let us not be fair-weather friends of Christ. Let us not be there for Him in His glory and flee from Him in His suffering. St. Paul says, "Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4). In order to receive the gift of life that Jesus Christ offers us, we must also share in His sufferings.
Let us re-commit ourselves to our Lenten sacrifice again this week. As Christ continues his fasting in the desert, let us also fast and unite our sacrifice to His, so that we might share in His eternal life. Let us share in the sacrifice of Calvary so that we might share in the glory of the Transfiguration.
God love you!
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