The Transfiguration and Resurrection
Memorial: St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions
(Rev 11:4-12; Ps 144; Lk 20:27-40)
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During a course I once took on addiction’s awareness, I found out only two out of twenty-three participants actually believed in the resurrection. All the others were into reincarnation. A friend tells me her niece seemed to also believe in reincarnation, because of a faulty image of heaven – she didn’t want to sit on a cloud eternally doing nothing.
We need to educate our people on the true nature of the resurrection. It will be a whole new heaven and a new earth; a divine dance with the Trinity; all of creation will be made new.
There will be no more suffering, war, violence or evil. Our joy will be boundless, and perhaps all our pets and the animals we love will be there too.
John Bosco would gather his street kids for what he called a Festive Oratory – mass, prayers, confession and games – on Sunday. Then once a month he would take them to a cemetery to talk to them about the last things and help them be ready for a holy death. Surely he also tried to get them excited about living in the risen world.
Jesus at the Transfiguration is a symbol of the new world. The very architecture of the Church of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor in Galilee seeks to proclaim that mystery with its three towers. The central main tower represents a tent Peter wanted to build for the transfigured Lord, the two smaller ones, tents for Moses and Elijah.
Church of the Transfiguration
Moses is pictured with bare feet, for he is on holy ground he does not own. The burning bush is on the right, and the rock he struck twice on the left. That rock symbolizes the one crucifixion of Christ, so he would only see and not enter the promised land because he struck the rock twice. Nevertheless, his face glows because he saw the glory of God.
Moses – the great Lawgiver
Elijah is pictured with the unburnt sacrifice of the priests of Baal on the right, and his burning sacrifice on the left. His face also glows with the glory of God.
Elijah – the great Prophet
Both Moses and Elijah, in the Lukan account, were speaking to Jesus about “his departure in Jerusalem he was about to accomplish.” In the midst of all that glory, they were talking about suffering. It would be through the mystery of the Cross that Jesus would re-enter into his glory, reveal the depth of God’s love for us, and redeem our sinful humanity. That brokenness on the cross is the key to the mystery of the kingdom of God., and our participation in that kingdom. When we can accept suffering in our lives the way Jesus did, without bitterness or resentment – only love and forgiveness – we are already in the kingdom of God and sharing in God’s glory especially through peace and joy. What is truly exciting is that new world begins today, through faith, love and worship.
The Transfiguration – Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John
Today the church honors the Vietnamese martyrs who truly lived with great faith the paschal mystery of redemptive suffering. In the 16thcentury Christian missionaries went to live among the people of Vietnam. From the 17thto 19thcenturies, some 130,000 Christians were martyred. Andrew Dung-Lac (born 1785) and Peter Thi, Vietnamese priests, were beheaded on December 21, 1839. A letter written in 1843 by Paul Le-Bao-Tinh, an imprisoned martyr, describes his faith in God’s love and mercy: “I, Paul, in chains for the name of Christ, wish to relate to you the trials besetting me daily, in order that you may be inflamed with love for God and join with me daily in his praises, ‘for his mercy is forever.’ The prison here is a true image of everlasting hell: to cruel tortures of every kind – shackles, iron chains, manacles – are added hatred, vengeance, calumnies, obscene speech, quarrels, evil acts, swearing, curses, as well as anguish and grief. But the God who once freed the three children from the fiery furnace is with me always….” In June 1988, Pope John Paul II declared 117 Vietnamese martyrs saints of the Church.
The Vietnamese martyrs
One of the mysteries portrayed in the alcove behind the altar in the Church of the Transfiguration is the Eucharist, featuring three angels and a host. The Eucharist is all about transformation – humble gifts of bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. Just as important, we are transformed into the Body of Christ.
Bishop Sylvain and Fr. Susai celebrating Eucharist in the alcove – Image of transformation in the background.
So, let us believe, love one another and worship our God with our whole being, in the anticipation of seeing God face to face in the resurrection, but also experiencing the glory of God in our lives here and now.
Everyone should be going through resurrection once they have departed from this earth. If we truly believe in God then he will lead us to eternal life. In resurrection and eternity is full of joy and beautiful creations and gifts that we have never seen before. Once we enter this new journey full of hope, joy, peace and love. We never have to face any problems and violence that would lead us to commit sins over and over again. There are some people who refuse to believe in resurrection that there is a God who can save their lives from being in hell. They think there is only one path once we committed so many crimes and sins on this earth. We will be going to hell and spending our time with evil spirits. They do not know that God can transform our lives to be a new person living in this new journey. Amen
So, we are to believe and trust God by following his word by loving one another as we love ourselves. We also need to have forgiveness by forgiving one another and forgiving ourselves for all those sins and faults we have committed recently and in the past. We are to ask God to forgive our sins and heal us to be a better person. This is a way to be resurrected by changing our behavior and the way we are. We are to show our love and respect to God and towards other people. Those people who are saints and martyrs follow Jesus’ word in proclaiming the bible so they will enter the kingdom of God. Amen. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks Bishop Sylvain . You should be blessed.