A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
Growing up as a kid, probably when I was 8 or 9 years old, I remember, in school we used to secretly read some cartoon comic books during the class hours without teacher’s knowledge. (I was never caught though!) One of them was “Iron Fist” (Google: irumbukkai mayavi tamil pdf) a very interesting and popular comic, where the hero takes down the evil ones with his sparkling iron fist. When he goes for such encounters with evils, his body becomes totally invisible to everyone except his dazzling iron fist moving in the air. It is full of suspense and thrill and excitement!
When I read the passage of Jesus’ transfiguration, somehow I remembered the same excitement, thrill and adventure….top of the mountain, face shone like the sun, clothes becoming dazzling white, Peter saying in ecstasy he’s ready to build three tents, etc.
Jesus is the Son of God in human form. His disciples probably did not or had difficulty understanding the mystery of Him as both Son of God and Son of Mary. When Jesus the Son of God predicted for the first time about His passion and death, Peter defies not wanting Him to die like that, but Jesus gets furious and scolds him “Get behind me Satan”.
After this, Jesus wanted to give Peter and His other two apostles, James and John, an experience that they would remember forever especially after His resurrection. The ‘Transfiguration’ (takes place in the beginning of Chapter 17) in Mount Tabor. Jesus tells them not to tell anyone as this was only one part of his glorification. He had yet to climb up another mountain – Mount Calvary – where He would receive the other part of His glorification through His passion, suffering and death. Until then do not tell anyone! The second Reading confirms the purpose of His transfiguration; “the glory” through the witness of Peter himself.
This feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus calls for the transformation of our lives by accepting Jesus as the fulfillment of all divine laws (Moses) and prophesies (Elijah). Transfiguration will become possible for all of us on the last day when we transform our lives with the help of the glorified Son of God in the Holy Eucharist which is the culmination of laws and prophesies!
Let us plan our lives to take part in the glory of the Lord by enduring our sufferings with the help of Holy Eucharist!
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
