A Homily - The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), The Transfiguration

First Reading – Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,9

Second Reading – 2 Peter 1:16-19 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 17:5

The Gospel According to Matthew 17:1-9 ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

 The writers of the book of Daniel are more interested in pomp and circumstance, in titles and royal courts than they are in the true work of the living and loving God, the creator of the universe.

 Know this!

 God is not a king. Jesus was not a king. God is a servant, as was Jesus, the anointed one.

 Do not seek glory; rather seek to do good by your neighbor, your family, the stranger.

 Do not look for the God at the head of an army, riding in the vehicles of war; rather look for God among the marginalized, the hungry and the poor.

 God is Abba, father; Amma, mother; Jesus is our brother, teacher, friend.

 God is the keeper of a garden, not a king, a general or emperor.

 Let the Earth rejoice and all people in it, knowing that all people are God’s children, and God has no enemies. God is the creator of all things, and all things flow from the will God: just, merciful and loving.

 Know this.

 In the presence of God there will be no dismay, this is the promise of our faith. God will wipe away the tears from every face, and everyone is invited to the table.

 If you have never worshipped a carved image, do not think you are superior to those who have, because idolatry can be found in more than the worship of objects, it is most insidious in the form of ideology and doctrine, and dogma as systems of belief.

 Beware the false prophet.

 Prophecy does not come from the well of an individual’s imagination. The impulse to issue prophecy must be vetted in community, and even that is no guarantee of its certainty, because communities are just as capable of self-deception as individuals.

 A prophecy is not a portent of future events, even though a prophet may talk in terms of possibilities, probabilities and eventualities.

 Prophecy is a call to justice, to goodness and the merciful ways of God, who desires nothing more than that we love one another, with all of our heart.

 That is the test of prophecy.

 As Christians we are bound to read the Gospel in the context of its truthfulness.

 Let the Spirit of Truth guide us, even if it means rejecting a passage such as this.

 Consider the Gospel reading for today:

 There may have been an event when Jesus together with James and John went up the mountain together. It may have been that at such event Jesus connected for his followers the essential message that his ministry was in line with that of Moses, the liberator, the law giver; and Elijah, the truthteller. Jesus may even have meant for them to think of his work as an extension of the work of Enoch, a popular literary figure of his time whom people also referred to as the Son of Man, and whose return was expected imminently.

 Know this:

 The supernatural events described here did not happen.

 God is not a magician or a miracle worker; God is the author of nature and its laws, and God does not violate these laws for any reason.

 Jesus warned the disciples that his ministry would lead to his death, but like Enoch, the Son of Man, death would not stop him; he would return.

 Always read the gospel in such a way that you strip it of its fantastical elements, reconfigure them in your mid as the metaphors and allegories they are intended to be.

 Stories of the supernatural do not elucidate the way, rather, they cast shadows upon it.

 

First Reading – Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 ©

His Robe was White as Snow

As I watched:

Thrones were set in place and one of great age took his seat.

His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool.

His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire.

A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence.

A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

A court was held and the books were opened.

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man.

He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence.

On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.

His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,9

The Glory of God in His Judgements

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice.

The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice,

  let the many islands be glad.

Clouds and dark mist surround him,

  his throne is founded on law and justice.

Fire precedes him,

  burning up his enemies all around.

His lightnings light up the globe;

  the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains flow like wax at the sight of the Lord,

  at the sight of the Lord the earth dissolves.

The heavens proclaim his justice

  and all peoples see his glory.

Let them be dismayed, who worship carved things,

  who take pride in the images they make.

All his angels, worship him.

Zion heard and was glad,

  the daughters of Judah rejoiced

  because of your judgements, O Lord.

For you are the Lord, the Most High over all the earth,

  far above all other gods.

You who love the Lord, hate evil!

The Lord protects the lives of his consecrated ones:

  he will free them from the hands of sinners.

A light has arisen for the just,

  and gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice, you just, in the Lord

  and proclaim his holiness.

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice.

 

Second Reading – 2 Peter 1:16-19 ©

We Heard this Ourselves, Spoken from Heaven

It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

  So we have confirmation of what was said in prophecies; and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds.

 

Gospel Acclamation – Matthew 17:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

This is my Son, the Beloved: he enjoys my favour.

Listen to him.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Matthew 17:1-9 ©

His Face Shone Like the Sun

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.

  As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’

 

The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

The Transfiguration