The Glory And Splendor Of Christ

Readings: 1st: Gen 15, 5-12. 17; Ps 26; 2^nd Phil 3, 17. 4, 1; Gos: Lk 9, 28-36

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canóvanas, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He was the chancellor of the Diocese of Fajardo Humacao, Puerto Rico. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

On this second Sunday of Lent, the church encourages us not to rest in the material comforts of this world. Rather, we should march towards the Promised Land and our future glory. If we succeed in getting there, the Lord in whom we put our trust and faith will transfigure our mortal bodies into the likeness of his glorified body.

Once, a woman fell into a coma for a few hours. Waking up, she was sad and said to her children: “You should have allowed me to remain there.” Her children told her that they loved her so much and still needed her. She was still describing the beauty and splendor of the city she saw when her little daughter cried out: “Mummy, you were already in heaven. Please, let us go back there right now!” Like the apostles, this woman had a glimpse of the glory and splendor of the Eternal City. So she did not want to return to this world.

Today, our first reading and gospel have a lot in common. Both of them narrate the revelation of the glory and splendor of the future. First, due to Abraham’s faith, God revealed to him the glory that would be his in the future. Not only did God reveal this to Abraham, but he also sealed it with a covenant. This is as an assurance that He will fulfill his promise to Abraham.

In the gospel, Jesus revealed his future glory to Peter, James, and John, who are collectively referred to by Bible scholars as: “Members of the inner circle.” They saw the glory and splendor of God revealed in Christ, who represents the New Covenant; in Moses, who represents the Law; and in Elijah, who represents the Prophets. The transfiguration of Christ before His disciples is of great significance and has lots of lessons for us.

Christ could have gone to the mountain alone, but he decided to take them with him. This was to assure His disciples that they were not wasting their time by following him. He did it to increase and strengthen their faith in Him. He did it to resolve the argument about his personality. Most importantly, He did it to assure us of the future glory we would enjoy if we remained faithful to the end.

Another important lesson we must learn from today’s gospel comes from this narrative: “…Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they remained awake and saw his glory.” Of course, after a stressful day of mountain climbing, the disciples were tired.

However, because they were curious and wanted to know why Christ brought them there, they struggled to be awake. Physically, they were asleep, but spiritually, they were awake to accomplish the task that got them there. Like these apostles, we too must remain spiritually awake this season to experience God’s glory. If we must behold the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we must be ready to make many sacrifices.

The Lenten season offers us the opportunity to make sacrifices. It prepares us for future glory through prayers, good works, reflections, and self-denials. It is a time when we grow in grace to advance faithfully to the mountain of God’s glory.

This season, we must be spiritually attentive to know what Christ wishes to communicate to us through his Paschal Mystery. If we understand it, we will be in a position to partake in the glory of his resurrection. To achieve this, Paul advised us to: “Remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ” because he is “Our light and our help.”

Peace be with you!

Maranatha!