Feb 21^st, '16 Sunday homily: Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

Genesis 15:5-12,17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36

For Readings

http://www.usccb.org/nab/022116.shtml

Occasionally, we hear of many near-death experiences, or heaven-seen experiences of ones who were at the verge of death, or claim that they had left their physical body for some time and experienced the presence of God in heaven before coming back again to life. Several books on these are found on the market now. In their expression, we see one thing common in all of them. They want to live a better life, with faith in God, as they had a very joyful and blissful experience of God and heaven. They want to share their experience with others, which they consider something unique and inspiring. In today’s first reading, Abram, had a unique experience of God and received unbelievable promises. Since it was his concrete God-experience, he believed, was inspired, acted on it and achieved what God asked of him. The disciples, after seeing Jesus’ glorified form in transfiguration, became inspired and their faith was strengthened.

In the first reading, we see God, who promises Abram, who was aged and childless, to make him a father, whose children will be like stars in the sky and told him to leave the country of existing comfort and go to a distant unknown place, which God would lead him to. Without hesitation, he believed and left for the place the God told him to go with his wife, servants and flock. The delay in the fulfillment of God’s promise didn’t make him doubtful. As a result, he saw God’s glory and power and became the father of a nation. St.Paul, in his Letter to Philippians, reminds us that our common wealth is in heaven, and that Jesus, the Lord of heaven, will glorify our human bodies to be worthy of the heavenly kingdom, changing it into heavenly bodies.

In the Gospel, we see where Jesus, gives his three disciples, a glimpse of his glorified body along with the vision of Moses and Elijah, representing the whole Old Testament. That glimpse of Jesus’ glory, made Peter to say that, “Master, it is good that we are here..” The Heavenly experience, makes man long for that state of being forever. Foreseeing a superior joy, or satisfaction, enables man to undergo or withstand any amount of hardship and or sacrifice.

You might have heard the story of Linda. Linda, was an attractive young girl who lived a rather normal, happy life. But it wasn't always that way from the beginning. Linda, was a pretty baby but born with some facial deformities and a cleft-palate. Cosmetic surgery began early; life seemed one long series of operations and speech lessons. As a child, many times she became tired of and felt it very hard to cope with the long procedures. But, whenever Linda got discouraged, her parents showed her a drawing of what she would look like when the treatments were finished. The thought of what she would look like and could do, gave Linda the courage to go through all the operations and hardships. As a result, the rest of her life became a beautiful, joyful experience.

In the story of the Transfiguration, the Church, shows us a picture of what we can become with Christ at the end of this earthly life. He showed the disciples, Moses and Elijah, who live, in that glory forever, by becoming God’s obedient servants when they were on earth. Jesus, knew the human weakness of the disciples. He had to fill them with faith and courage. The disciples, remembered the scene of the Transfiguration, after His crucifixion and resurrection and got inspired to go through the sufferings and sacrifices for Faith. Their life became rewarded. Just as the vision of Jesus' Transfiguration, was meant to give the apostles courage and strength, in today’s readings the Church, tells us to look beyond the hardships of daily lives and sufferings and live for eternal glory.

At the time of the Transfiguration, the disciples, saw the glorious, divine face of Jesus, while after a few days, they saw the suffering Jesus’ weak, lifeless human face. But again, within a few days that weak face was resurrected, with powerful life-giving divine glory, as Jesus obeyed his Heavenly Father’s will and ascended to heaven. In appearance, the experience of Mount Tabor and Mount Calvary, are contradictory, while in essence both are the same, the eternal love and glory of God. In our life too, there will be days of glory and days of sufferings. At the time of glory, there may be many to encourage us and follow us, while at the time of sufferings, there may not be many. At that time, it will be our faith in God and hope in eternal life that will be our support and strength. The Church wants us to reflect on these mysteries, especially during this Lenten period, along with Jesus’ fasting, passion, crucifixion and resurrection. We need to keep the Transfigured face of the glorified Jesus on Mount Tabor and the disfigured face of the crucified Jesus on Mount Calvary in our minds. If so, nothing of this world will be capable of putting us down or become the cause of losing our spirit and enthusiasm at the time of trials.

Through the eyes of faith, in our every holy Mass, we witness the Transubstantiated body and blood of Christ. Let us draw strength and Spirit, from this Eucharist and our Lenten observance. Every humiliation, hardship, suffering, sacrifice, failure in the eyes of the world we experience for Christ, every act of mercy is our accumulating treasure for eternal life. In God, there are only gains, peace and joy for us.  God bless you.