The Sunday before Ash Wednesday was the Feast of the Transfiguration, commemorating the occasion when Jesus revealed himself to his closest associates in his Divinity as well as his humanity. For just a moment, they were able to see him as both God and man. He knew they would need this picture to carry them through all the trials and tribulations that would come next, as each one would face challenges for his belief in Jesus, not only as their national Messiah, but as the savior and redeemer of all mankind.
What a stark contrast. One week we we are facing one direction, gazing upon Jesus in all his Glory. The next, we turn the other direction to look at Jesus in his humanity. On Ash Wednesday we began the journey that will we all know will end at Golgotha. As the days spiral downward towards the cross, we also spiral down into our Lenten disciplines and times of introspection, reflection and repentance. As we get closer to Holy Week we become more and more focused on the individual events of the last days of the life of Jesus. By Palm Sunday we look at each major event of those last days, as if under a microscope.
First, there is the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with crowds waving palm branches and laying their garments across his path as he rides into Jerusalem admidst shouts of, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Just days later Jesus celebrates his last Passover with the disciples, those intimate friends and associates who have followed him for the last three and a half years through thick and thin. He takes his place at the table and tells them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you." As he lifts the third cup, the Cup of Blessing, he makes a fundamental change in the ceremony, and makes the Passover apply to himself. "This is my body, which is given for you..." he says. And then again, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." For ever after, he is ultimately and finally, the Passover Lamb without blemish, the perfect sacrifice for the whole world." For us, we remember this moment each time in the Mass when the celebrant says, "Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us", and we respond, "Therefore, let us keep the feast."
Then comes betrayal, arrest, the disciples hiding in fear, illegal trials, scourging and the crucifixion. Just as Jesus knew that those disciples would need to remember him in his Glory during those moments when they were afraid, He knows that we also need to remember the Glory of the Transfiguation, lest we also are overcome during the our times of trial and fear. We are very blessed in one respect. Whereas the disciples were still struggling to come to grips with just who He was, we have two thousand years of history to reflect and look back on in our understanding of Jesus and what he came to do; but even though we have this advantage, often we still struggle with that same issue - Who is Jesus and what place does he have in my life?
When we find ourselves this struggle, wondering what Jesus has to do with our lives, I urge you to turn back and revisit the Transfiguration with new eyes and see Jesus in his Divinity as well as his humanity. During Lent, especially, it is easy to get so focused on identifying with Jesus in his humanity that we forget to look up and see that he is also God.
I wish each and every one of you a Blessed Holy Week and Easter Season!
No comments:
Post a Comment