HOMILY FOR THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD YEAR A.
Daniel 7:9-10.13-14; Psalm 97:1-2.5-6.9; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Matthew 17:1-9.
“DISFIGURE TO TRANSFIGURE!”
By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.
· Today the church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The human figure of our Lord was transformed into his divine figure at the encounter of the glory of God on the mountain which is a prefiguration of the glory of heaven.
· The feast we celebrate today has so many lessons for us as Christians of this era that every divine encounter should lead to a transfiguration that leads to transformation. Nobody encounters the glory of God and remains the same and that is why St. Peter cried out in wonder “Let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matt. 17:4).
· Every Sunday at least and just like today, we have another opportunity to feel and experience the glory of God, we are also invited to make his awesome presence lead us to true worship and bring forth a life-changing transformation.
· The first reading (Daniel 7:9-10.13-14), gives an account of the glory that accompanies the presence of God. It employs apocalyptic language to explore the awesomeness of divine presence. And most times when we encounter it, we cannot contain it, it makes us cry out. We see glaringly our inadequacies and we desire transformation to continue to enjoy that divine company.
· Dearly beloved in Christ, sometimes the story of the transfiguration of our Lord and the true worship it elucidates can sound mythical or like a fairy tale, that is why St. Peter in the second reading (2 Peter 1:16-19), who was also an active participant in the Transfiguration experience is telling us that it is real and it is an experience every Christian should desire and long for.
· The Gospel reading (Matthew 17:1-9) on the other hand, is the main transfiguration account of how everything transpired on the mountain. The question we must ask ourselves is that what lessons does this experience hold for us?
· We must realise that our spirituality is not deep enough until we have a trance-like experience of the glory and presence of God and that should lead us to continue to desire the presence of God and the things of God.
· When our worship becomes true, we do not want to leave the presence of God. We wish that we continue to enjoy that sweetness and the loving presence of God who is love. Unfortunately, the Holy mass which should be a place of encounter with the divine has rather become a burden to most Christians, they do not connect deeply with the presence of the Divine hence they are always itching to leave before the end of mass.
· Every deep spiritual encounter should always lead to a loving conversation with God. When you love being in the presence of God, then you will love conversing more often with God through prayers both spoken and unspoken, and holy living.
· Friends in Christ, the high point of the transfiguration experience is the thundering of the voice of God from heaven “This is my beloved son, listen to him” (Matt. 17:5). You can never have a true and intimate relationship with God if you do not listen to his voice.
· Today, having encountered the glory of God and the presence of God on this mountain of divine worship, we pray that the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ which we receive may be an inspiration for our total transformation through Christ our Lord, Amen!
· Happy Sunday!!!
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