• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Lent 2021
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, August 6, 2018

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Scripture:Transfiguration of Christ

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
2 Peter 1:16-19
Luke 9:28b-36

Reflection:

The account of the Transfiguration of Jesus is in all the gospels readings except John’s gospel. The context of the other three gospel presentations is very similar. Before the account of the Transfiguration, the disciples of Jesus begin to seriously wonder who is this Jesus, who is this man to whom we are following, the Rabbi to whom we are listening and attaching ourselves. Following Jesus is becoming more challenging as the religious establishment begins to question and try to trap Jesus in a heresy. Probably the disciples are asking questions about Jesus not so much to understand Jesus better but more that they might know “what’s in it for us.”

After responding to Jesus that he is Elijah or some other prophet, Peter replies that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. How their imaginations must have begun to work on what it meant to be so closely associated with the Messiah, the Savior and Liberator of Israel. They could only imagine the glories and privileges that awaited them in the future. We all like to be associated with a prominent person. In our view that association makes us more important, and maybe there will be a status that trickles down to us.

Immediately after Peter’s profession, Jesus reminds the disciples that he, the Messiah, will suffer greatly, be rejected by the religious leaders and be killed. Jesus did briefly mention the resurrection after three days, but the disciples only heard the bad news. They could not believe what Jesus was saying. How could this happen to the Messiah. And what would this mean for their imagined future of advantage and prominence.

The Transfiguration, which happens a few days later, is a special moment of encouragement at a time of disillusionment and misunderstanding. God confirms the words of Jesus that the Messiah will suffer and die. “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Yes, a special moment in time that will help the disciples through the difficult days ahead. Their image of the Messiah has been challenged, but it will take time for them to really appreciate how Jesus understood his role as Messiah. They will not fully comprehend this until after the Resurrection and Ascension and Pentecost (Second Reading from St. Peter).

When our understanding of life, our dreams and hopes, our expectations are not being fulfilled, when disappointments bring us to disenchantment and cynicism, let us open our mind and hearts to Jesus to bring us a deeper level of understanding or perhaps to change our way of understanding. Let the imagination of Jesus into your heart and mind. It takes time as it took the disciples a long time to fully understand and accept the true mission of Jesus. Following in the footsteps of the disciples is our way to true joy and peace of mind.

Fr. Don Webber, C.P., is the director of the Office of Mission Effectiveness and resides in Chicago.

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2021 | Log in