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Second Sunday of Lent Homily by Deacon Fred Williams

Second Sunday of Lent (C)

March 17th 2019

Introduction:

Some of you may remember the ballad of the “Boy named Sue.” It was written and sung by Johnny Cash a few decades ago and became a hit. It’s still around, and I hear it every once and awhile. The essence of the ballad is that the father of this boy knew that he was about desert his family, and named him “Sue” so he would have to be tough to overcome the ridicule of having been named “Sue.”

“Sue” and his father met one day in a life or death struggle; fought it out to the death; “Sue” won, but they wound up loving each other. Life is dirty; a struggle and we have to fight to overcome evil. The disciples were about to face such a struggle and Jesus wanted to give them something concrete to help prepare them for what they were about to face.

Text: In the first reading, God makes an unconditional covenant with Abram; promising him land and numerous descendants but shows him that he and his descendants will have to enter his covenant through sacrifice, darkness, distress, and suffering. It also reminds us that we, too, enter his covenant through sacrifice, darkness, distress and suffering. He tells both Abram and us, not to fear, that he is with us.

In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us, as we learned a few weeks ago, that “walking in the counsel of the ungodly;” relying on ourselves rather on God, is to live as enemies of the cross.

The Gospel concerns the transfiguration of Jesus; a mountain top experience that you will recognize as the fourth “Luminous Mystery” of the Rosary.

 Context:

On the surface, the transfiguration of Jesus appears to be an isolated, enigmatic event. However, when observed from the perspective of salvation history, it fits the way Jesus’ gradually revealed himself as the “Son of God.” Any teacher can tell you that you can’t teach anybody, anything; you can only lead them to the truth. They have to grasp it on their own and be willing to accept it. There’s an old saying that: “a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” Had Jesus just said, outright: “I am the Son of God,” the response would have been: “yeah, right!” But, when unfolded gradually by word, deed and miracle, the truth began to emerge;” God shows us as much as he tells us!

In the context of salvation history, we see it was anything but a random event. It was directly related to Jesus' mission. After the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus began to reveal his authority over natural laws and events by performing miracles such as the multiplication of loaves and fishes, walking on water and calming storms. He, then, drew the disciples out by asking questions: “Who do men say that I am, and...Who do you say that I am?” to which Peter answered: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

After commending Peter for his insight, Jesus began to break the news that he must suffer on the cross; die and rise again; to which Peter responded: “this can never happen!” He, like the others, was expecting a conquering; not a suffering, Messiah. However, Jesus knew the ordeal his disciples would be going through and, among other things, wanted to provide an event to sustain them. The transfiguration was such an event. Something stupendous took place. The glorious and heavenly nature of Jesus shone through the transfiguration; the same power that would raise him from the dead was there for his disciples to see.

Several things about this event would have caught the attention of these three Jewish disciples: 1.) God appeared to Moses in a cloud when he received the law on a mountain; 2.) The Transfiguration took place on a mountain and a cloud overshadowed them; 3.) When Moses came down from the mountain his face “shone brightly.” 4.) When Jesus was

transfigured, his face “shone like the sun!” 5.) Moses told the Israelites that God would send them a “prophet like unto me;” 6.) There, before Peter, James and John, stood Jesus; Moses, representing the Law; Elijah, representing the Prophets and the voice of God speaking to them from the cloud saying: “this is my beloved Son, listen to him!”

The events of the transfiguration were enough to make an impression that Peter, James and John would recall years later in their epistles. Both heaven and earth had given witness to Jesus’ divinity. There were the earthly witnesses of Peter, James and John and the heavenly witnesses of Moses; Elijah; and the Voice of God saying; “this is my beloved Son, listen to him.” These things fulfilled the Levitical Law that truth could be established by two or three witnesses.

Application:

The beautiful thing is; we received this same power, in seed form, when we were baptized and confirmed. Here in this inner “Holy of Holies,” we already possess “what we will be;” transforming our lives in small but significant ways; and will raise us up on the last day! However, we have to water that seed with the tears of repentance and reconciliation and fertilize them with prayer and the Word so that it will grow and mature!

As you recall, Jesus and his disciples didn’t stay on the mountain. They came down, and immediately found the demoniac needing help. Mountain top experiences are great, but living, loving and working in the valleys are where Christ asks us to be. Like Johnny Cash’s song says; he wants us “out among people, and down in “the mud and the blood and the beer!”

We can find the life giving strength we need to fight this battle every time we partake of the body, blood, soul and divinity of our living and glorified Lord; empowering us to become living water; “Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free!”

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