Transformed Life

Mar 1^st  , 2015  Sunday  Homily:  Fr.Francis Chirackal CMI

Gn.22.1-2,9-13,15-18;Rom 8:31-34; Mk 9:2-10

For Readings

http://www.usccb.org/nab/030115.shtml

One day, a young boy wandered into a sculptor's studio. He looked around and saw huge chunks of stone and marble. Hearing the sound of hammering, he followed it to a man chipping away at a large piece of marble. Intrigued, he watched a long while, then left. Weeks later the boy came back and saw a great lion on the pedestal. He said to the artist: "How did you find that lion in the marble?" The man said: "Son, it is the vision of the artist to see the lion in the marble!". Same way it is our faith that enables us to see glory of heaven in the person of Jesus. When we submit ourselves to Jesus He transforms us into His discipleship chipping away all evil elements from our life and filling us with His spirit.

The common theme of today’s readings is transformation.  The readings invite us to transform our lives by renewing them during Lent, and to radiate the grace of the transfigured Lord around us by our Spirit-filled lives.  Both the first and second readings present salvation history as a response to God’s call, a call going out to a series of key persons, beginning with Abraham and culminating in Jesus Christ and his apostles.  Faith is presented here as the obedient response to the call of God. This faith opens up channels for the redemptive action of God in history, thus transforming the world.  Today’s gospel describes Jesus’ transfiguration during prayer on a mountain.

  On Mount Tabor three disciples get a glimpse of the glory of Jesus. The aim of transfiguration was to make his chosen disciples aware of his divine glory so that they might discard their worldly ambitions about a conquering political Messiah.

 God’s words from the cloud: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him,” are the same words used by God  the Father at Jesus' baptism (3:17).  They summarize the meaning of the Transfiguration: on this mountain, God the Father reveals Jesus as His son -- His beloved -- the one in whom He is well pleased and to whom we must listen.  

Holy father Pope Francis on this Ash Wednesday message reminded us to become transformed in the right direction, saying that, “Today, in fact, many are ready to “rend their garments” over scandals and injustices – which are of course caused by others – but few seem willing to act according to their own “heart”, their own conscience and their own intentions, by allowing the Lord transform, renew and convert them”. He said, that by the grace of God, we are called to transform into a concrete attitude and behaviour during Lent. If we look at our own life and tendencies with a sincere heart, we may find that, we are more prone to help others become transformed, rather than we ourselves make efforts to transform ourselves. Therefore, if we want to be transformed in to the image of Christ, we need to refine and re-define our attitude about ourselves. This lent is a right time to refine our attitude and to become transformed with proper repentance, penance, conversion and sacraments.

On mount Tabor, disciples saw Jesus in his glory. For us, Holy Mass is an occasion to see Jesus in His glory.  The transfiguration in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength.  In each Holy Mass our offering of bread and wine becomes transformed into the body and blood of Jesus.  Hence, just as the transfiguration strengthened the apostles in their time of trial, each Holy Mass, should be our source of heavenly strength against our own temptations, and a source of renewal of our lives.  In addition, communion with Jesus should be a source of daily transfiguration of both our minds and hearts. 

Each sacrament that we receive transforms us. It leads us to Tabor experience.  May this Holy Eucharist and observance of Lent help us to bring real transformation in our lives, by living our faith with a sincere heart and growing in grace.  Transformed life is always a joyful life in Spirit. Let us rejoice in Spirit with a transformed life of peace and joy. God bless you.