Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Today’s Gospel shows the three closest disciples of Jesus in a mountaintop experience. Peter, James, and John have their own insightful “aha” moment as they realize that there is so much more to Jesus than they could ever have imagined. “He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Jesus is filled with the divine presence. Jesus is the divine presence in the flesh, God’s beloved Son!
Of course, the three men wanted to stay where they were on that mountaintop with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Peter said that they could make three tents and remain on the mountain. But Jesus was not finished with his mission yet and he needed to move forward. Jesus also knew that moving on would be filled with some very deep valleys and painful lows.
I hope that everyone who is reading this has come to know Jesus, not just as a man, but also as God’s Son. Jesus is more than he first appears to be. He is God’s presence among us in the flesh. Our spiritual experiences of Jesus, coming in a variety of ways, strengthens us for the valleys of life, the lows of life, that come along with the mountaintop experiences we have of God’s presence.
When we come into a Church and pass by the Tabernacle of the reserved Eucharistic Presence, we bend the knee before Him. As we approach to receive Him in Holy Communion, we bow our heads out of our respect for Him before we receive him. We honor His Spirit in our hearts by striving to lead holy lives. We lend a hand to Him whenever we help the least ones among us. All of this because Jesus is more than just a man. He is God, who in the Resurrection shows himself to be ever-present, all-knowing, and all-loving.
That is why we spend these days of Lent remembering Jesus’ passion for us, which includes his suffering for us. His own mountaintop experience with Moses and Elijah was quickly followed by his steady and determined path to Calvary. We remember just how much God loves us; so much that he gives us His only Son, who is willing to go into battle for our souls. Although some people would look at Jesus on the Cross and say, “Here was just another innocent man who got caught in the system,” we know different for we have come to know him, and we say about him hanging on the cross, “There is my God willing to die for me.”
May we always relish those mountaintop experiences, the times when we experienced the divine presence in Jesus. We need those times to get us through the difficult moments of life, the times when God seems to be dead for a while, just before he rises to make his powerful love for us known again.
Have a blessed week everyone.