Posted: 3/4/2009 5:09:31 AM EDT
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March 8, 2009
Second Sunday of Lent Reading 1 Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 1 God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am!" he replied. Then God said: 2 "Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you." 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. 10 Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am!" he answered. 12 "Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger. "Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son." 13 As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. 15 Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven 16 and said: "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, 17 I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, 18 and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing— all this because you obeyed my command." Reading II Rom 8:31b-34 Brothers and sisters: 31 If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us, 34 who will condemn? Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised— who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Gospel Mk 9:2-10 2 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. 
Overview of the Gospel: · This Sunday’s Gospel relates the what is traditionally called the Transfiguration of Jesus (from the Latin: trans = radical change; figur = appearance. The Greek word is metamorphothe). · This event is recounted in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). It is mentioned by Peter in his second epistle (2 Peter 1:16-19) and we may even see a possible allusion to it in John 1:14. · In Mark’s gospel, the Transfiguration takes place six days after Jesus first predicts his Passion to the disciples and presents to them the demands of the Cross (Mark 8:31-38). Luke adds the fact that he took his three disciples to the top of the mountain to pray (Luke 9:28). The three that Jesus took with him—Peter, James, and John—formed sort of an “inner circle” among Jesus’ disciples and were present at key events in his ministry (Mark 5:21-43; 14:33). · The traditional location of the Transfiguration is Mount Tabor. In Christianity, Mt. Tabor has been seen as the counterpart to the Old Testament Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Jewish Law (Exodus 19) and Elijah the Prophet had an encounter with God in “a still, small, voice (1 Kings 19). Moses and Elijah were thought to epitomize, respectively, the Law and the Prophets. They also were thought to have both been assumed (taken bodily) into heaven. · At the end of this encounter, the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) disappear (verse 8) but Jesus, who is the fulfillment of them both (Matthew 5:17; 7:12; 22:34-40; Luke 16:16-17) remains. Questions: What is the connection between Mark 9:1 and the Transfiguration? What do you imagine this scene was like? What is the significance of Moses’ and Elijah’s presence? Of the voice (see Mark 1:11)? Why would this event be important for the disciples? Who played the role of Elijah (see Matthew 17:10-13)? With what result (Mark 6:14-29)? How could John the Baptist’s fate help the disciples understand the nature of Jesus’ Messiahship?” Where have you grasped a bit of Jesus’ glory in a special way? How does the picture of a suffering Messiah shape your view of what the Christian life is all about? Catechism of the Catholic Church: 554-556 Transfiguration: Foretaste of the kingdom. 1459-1454 The nature of "contrition" in sacramental penance. 2565 Prayer as communion with God. 2570-2571 Prayer: Abraham's submissive heart. 2574-2577 Moses: Called through the burning bush to associate with God's compassion. Face-to-face he draws strength for intercession. 2602 Jesus prays in solitude and includes all in his prayer. |
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Oooh, I get to go first?
Questions: What is the connection between Mark 9:1 and the Transfiguration? Some hold that it indicates that the establishment of the Church, which happened within the lifetime of those present at the Transfiguration, fulfills this passage. What do you imagine this scene was like? What is the significance of Moses’ and Elijah’s presence? Of the voice (see Mark 1:11)? Why would this event be important for the disciples? No doubt the three who witnessed the Transfiguration were dumbfounded. The only thing they could think to say was likely prompted by the fact that the Festival of Booths was then underway. They wanted to make a place for Moses and Elijah to stay with them for awhile and enjoy the festival. Moses and Elijah here stand for the entirety of the "Law and the Prophets" - that is, the Old Testament. They link the Old with the NEw by their presence. The words of the voice bring to mind Jesus' Baptism scene described earlier. Who played the role of Elijah (see Matthew 17:10-13)? With what result (Mark 6:14-29)? How could John the Baptist’s fate help the disciples understand the nature of Jesus’ Messiahship?” Charlton Heston? No, before his time. 
The early Church understood this to be a reference to John the Baptist. Since John was now dead, there could be no confusion - some had thought perhaps HE was the Messiah; yet his death also foreshadows what Jesus will go through. Jesus will be a suffering Messiah. Where have you grasped a bit of Jesus’ glory in a special way? I'm not sure I fully understand this question, but I think perhaps I would have to say at Mass or during Adoration. How does the picture of a suffering Messiah shape your view of what the Christian life is all about? The Christian life is all about dying to one's self and living for others. Often one must suffer a deprivation - even a self-imposed one - in order to spiritually benefit another. We are called to aid one another in our journey toward God. As such, we often must deny ourselves what would be otherwise legitimate pleasure and joys of this world in order to help someone else grow in the spirit. |
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What is the connection between Mark 9:1 and the Transfiguration? The connection I believe is that Peter James and John were taken to demonstrate their unique positions as Apostles, as Theophylacts says.... He takes with Him the three chiefs of the Apostles, Peter, as confessing and loving him, John, as the beloved one, James, as being sublime in speech and as a divine; Who played the role of Elijah (see Matthew 17:10-13)? With what result (Mark 6:14-29)? John the Baptist did in the first coming of Christ what Elijah will do in the 2nd coming. I discuss this HERE The result was the Baptist was beheaded. Where have you grasped a bit of Jesus’ glory in a special way? I've always had a little of doubting Thomas in me, but there has been some occasions where undeniable supernatural things have happened right in front of my eyes that left me with no room for doubt that the Lord is as real as the hand in front of my face. How does the picture of a suffering Messiah shape your view of what the Christian life is all about? So many things come to mind. First of all is how unworthy I am for the Lord to suffer for me, but also how important that Christ shows me that I am to Him that He did it for me. |