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Readings
The transfiguration of the Lord. Day of repentance
Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14. The Lord is King, Most High in all the earth – Ps 96 (97): 1-2, 5-6, 9. 2. Peter 1: 16-19. Mark 9: 2-10.
This is my son, the beloved
Luminosity holds our attention. The last warm glow of the sun on the horizon. The twinkling stars in the midnight sky. The flickering flame of a candle. Beautiful, wonderful, calming. We expect this earthly light and we never seem to get tired of it. Jesus appears to his friends in an extraordinary way, his clothes glow with dazzling intensity. It is a state beyond their comprehension, an unexpected, confusing, even terrifying experience. Masking his fear, Peter suggests pitching tents to capture what feels “normal” for the situation. This desire to turn away from frightening, overwhelming experiences to the pleasant, human and familiar is relatable. The Transfiguration shocks us with its strangeness, its mystery and its amazement. It suggests that Jesus is both human and divine. And then, in the midst of mysteries and the spectacle of blinding light, love is spoken. This is my beloved son. As I abide by the miracle of the sunset and the stars, may I pause in this brightest moment, this gaze at God’s great love that is alive in Christ.
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