Second Sunday of Lent: Year C 2016....DOCTRINE AND FAITH

DOCTRINE  AND  FAITH(Genesis 15, 5-12.17-18; Philippians  3,17-4,1;  Luke  9,28-36: Second Sunday of Lent:  Year C  2016)

Every second Sunday of Lent, the church proposes the event of the transfiguration of Christ for our reflection. The yearly reflection shows its importance for Christ and for us. Our reflection today is in three parts. 

(1) Transfiguration in the context of the events in the ministry of Jesus: To help understand the full import of the transfiguration, it is necessary to relate it to what Jesus did before and after it. In his ministry before his transfiguration, Jesus worked many miracles (See chapters 4,5,6); healed the sick; overpowered the forces of nature (Luke 8,22-25) and  cast out demons (Luke 8,26; 4,31). Like any grand master, he gathered some disciples around him (Luke 6,12-16) whom he sent on apostolic mission (Luke cap. 9). Witnessing his deeds and hearing his teachings, it was logical that public had to wonder at his identity. It was Herod who said in bewilderment:  I had the head of John cut … who is this one? (Luke cap 9). It was Peter who, in the name of all the disciples declared: He is Christ of God, the promised Messiah. Immediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus predicts his passion. He demands much from his would-be disciples when he declared: who wishes to follow me, let him deny himself…: who wishes to save his life will lose it, but who will lose it for my sake, will gain it; who is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of man will be ashamed of him when he comes into his glory in the presence of his heavenly Father and the holy angels. But who is this Jesus that is able to perform a lot of extraordinary miracles and is demanding much from his disciples? This is the big question that underlines the transfiguration narrative of Luke. His gospel is a deep catechesis through which he intends that the disciples of Jesus, the first Christian community, as well as disciples and Christian communities of all times, would be able to discover whom Jesus truly is. 

(2) Transfiguration reveals who Jesus is: The event of the transfiguration supplies the answer to the big question: Who is Jesus! Jesus is not only a human being, even if he is the most extraordinary person. In addition, even of more importance, Jesus is the beloved Son of God, as the voice from the cloud declared. Thus, beyond the humanity of Christ, there is the divinity in him. After the event of his passion and death, which he predicted and about which he discusses with Elijah and Moses, would follow unfailingly his resurrection and his return to his Father. Therefore, one can trust him and should listen to him; one can and should follow him, even when it would be tantamount to carrying one’s cross and denying oneself. The liturgy in the first reading presents the figure of Abraham as a shining example of a man of faith. Abraham was a person who trusted God. In spite of all the temptations and challenges, he believed in the divine promise, even when, humanly speaking, it looked impossible; he believed and hoped against all human hope. If we are believers, we should follow Abraham’s example. Like every other mortal, we are not spared from temptation and suffering. At times, it would look like the good people suffer even more. We are, however, certain of these facts: all things work well for the good of those who love God; God is faithful to his words and maintains his promises. It is also clear in our mind that through suffering and temptations we resemble Christ, transfigure into him and participate in his glory at the end of our lives. 

(3) Configured to Christ: In the 2nd reading, Paul tells us that our fatherland is heaven. But to enter into this celestial fatherland, be able to participate in the glory of the risen Christ and be transfigured into him and with him, we need to remain strong and firm in faith. The assimilation or configuration (transfiguration) in Christ comes to us at our baptism on the level of being. It is necessary to realize and perfect it in the level of doing and living. That is to say, we need to transform and transfigure ourselves into Christ by manifesting in our lives the sentiments and comportments of Christ. We need to follow his style of life. Paul also warns us not to live as if we were enemies to the cross of Christ. We are rather to exhibit detachment and wisdom in the use of the things of this world, not loosing sight of the celestial goods. We are to show sobriety, moderation, mortification and the discipline of the body and the spirit and especially, practicing love and charity without closing the heart against the needy neighbour. This will signify being friends to the Cross of Christ. To be really so, it is necessary that we complete the exodus: coming out of our blind selfishness, perverse inclinations; we need also to liberate ourselves from our moral slavery, that is, to stay, to make steady progress on the road of continued conversion. This is what Lenten season invites and solicits us to do. It is therefore, only when we are friends to the Cross of Christ, we will be able to participate fully and definitively in the resurrection and transfiguration of Christ. Happy Sunday! +John I. Okoye