17-Feb-2013
Dear Friend, Everyone of us has peak moments of intense experience that sometimes change the course of our lives. We cannot create these experiences but we have to be aware of these happenings. Only those who have these moving experiences can vouch for how life-changing they have been. Every human being can recollect times when they had moments of intense insights, a clarity of vision, a God-experience. This experience can be ours too. Pray that you may have a transforming God experience this Lent! Fr. Jude Sunday Reflections: 2nd Sunday of Lent: "Confirmed in faith! Witnesses of the Divine!" 24-Feb-2013 Readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Phil. 3:17- 4:1 Luke 9:28-36 The first reading focuses on Abraham our father in faith. We know God had called Abraham to leave his home and move to a new homeland. Though Abraham was well-settled where he was, he believed in God's promise and journeyed to the land of promise. Then God makes him a second promise, that he will be a father. Abraham was childless and advanced in age, yet he believed in the promises of God. Abraham put his faith in God and this was counted as a blessing for him. Abraham was asked to offer a sacrifice and God himself ratified the covenant by the burning torch that passed between the offerings. The deep sleep that fell on Abraham symbolized God and his binding covenant that transforms him. Topaz Precious stones have a magical quality about them, as anyone who has visited the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels can testify. One such precious stone is the exquisite and priceless blue topaz. Blue topaz is chemically a silicate of aluminum, which of itself has no beauty or brilliance. But under great pressure and heat exerted over millions of years, this dull opaque silicate is transformed into a transparent crystal with a remarkable blue colour and clarity. -Today's readings tell us about striking transformations. In the first reading from Genesis, in his encounter with God not only is Abram's name changed by God to Abraham, but his whole destiny is changed as he now becomes the father of many nations. Albert Cylwicki in 'His Word Resounds' In today's gospel we are reminded of the moment of the transfiguration of Jesus who was accompanied on the mountain by Peter, James and John his favoured disciples. Luke describes the transformation of our Lord in the presence of his disciples: On the mountain of the transfiguration the three disciples are given a foretaste of the glory that will be his after the resurrection. At the same time Jesus is seen with Moses and Elijah speaking about his passion. Luke tells us that in the conversation of Jesus with Moses and Elijah, they were speaking of the 'departure' of Jesus. Luke uses the term 'exodus' to refer to Jesus' departure. This exodus is the Passover, the passage to the Promised Land, a sign of the Kingdom. Calling death an exodus means death is not the end of Jesus' plan. The cross and the crown go hand in hand. Peter knows that this is a special moment and he wants it to last forever. He exclaims, "Lord it is wonderful to be here, so let's make three tents and stay!" As he was speaking a cloud descends on them and they were enveloped in the cloud that covered them. The cloud is symbolic of the presence and majesty of God, whose presence overshadows all things. At the Exodus, the cloud symbolized God's guiding presence leading and protecting the Israelites. The presence of God descends on his Son and his disciples strengthening them for the journey ahead. The episode of the transfiguration reminds us that our being Christians has to be lived in the midst of the ups and downs and difficulties of history. There will be many moments of exodus -departures, in order to find life. Without the cross there is no crown. God cannot be separated from our lives About two centuries ago, some atheistic scientists in France set out to prove that, if an individual was never told about God, he would never think of the existence of God. And so they devised a strange plan. They made an agreement with the parents of a newborn infant to remove the entire family to a remote region where they could enjoy the very best by way of nutrition and recreation. The little boy was educated by the best of tutors, who were however strictly instructed never to make a mention of God. When the little boy was seven, his nurse found him missing one morning. In a state of alarm, she searched for him until she found him on a little hillock, facing the rising sun. He was on his knees, his hands were reverently joined, his head respectfully bowed and his eyes were closed as though he was lost in prayer. "What on earth are you doing?" demanded the anguished nurse. Without batting an eyelid, the little fellow said: "I am only praising the almighty Person who made that beautiful sunrise!" And there ended the sinister plan of those atheistic scientists and their presumptive objective. James Valladares in 'Your Words O Lord, are Spirit and they are life.' A name called in love Maude and Harry have been married for fifteen years and their relationship is limited to newspapers exchanged at breakfast-table and weather reports noted at dinner-table. Maude spends her days lingering over the housework because she dreads the time when she has nothing to do. Harry works long hours and says he is too tired to talk in the evenings - so they settle for drowsy boredom in front of the television. Maude never hears Harry call her by her name; only as "you". She feels like an old plant that has been left to wither quietly behind a curtain in the attic. One day Maude's friend, Mabel, arrives and tries some advice: "Maude, take a look at yourself! You're always going around with a colony of curlers in your head and tripping over your face. You're a mobile mess, dear. What you need is a new hairdo and a new outfit - then Harry will notice you. Get some spark, dear! Tomorrow, we will go shopping." Next day Maude spends hours at the hairdresser and at various stores. Mabel is enthusiastic about the results, but Maude feels the whole exercise is wasted effort. After their long day they return to wait for Harry. And when the key turns in the lock Maude stands up feeling foolish. When Harry comes in, he stops; he looks at his wife and when he sees her he realizes what he has done. He moves over to her, takes her in his arms, and calls her name over and over again. When that happens, Maude becomes radiant and aglow. She is transfigured - not because she has a new outfit but because this is the first time in years she has heard her name called in love. Denis McBride in 'Seasons of the Word' May the ups and downs of life transfigure us into the image of His Son! Fr. Jude Botelho [email protected] PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site www.netforlife.net Thank you.
