Monday, August 12, 2024

Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary time

(Ezekiel 1:2-5.24-28c; Matthew 17:22-27)

Christians interpret Ezekiel’s vision in today’s first reading as referring to Christ.  He is God with a human appearance.  In fact, the appearance is actual, not virtual.  Jesus is the humanly enfleshed God, Lord of heaven and earth.  The gospel supports this understanding.

Jesus questions Peter regarding taxes to show that he is the Son of God.  Everyone except the family of the Temple’s owner would be subject to the tax.  Since God owns the Temple, His son would be exempt from the tax.  Rather than cause trouble explaining the point, Jesus just pays the tax.  In doing so, however, he shows his divine foreknowledge.

We hope to remember the divinity of Jesus as we face life’s difficulties.  He became human to share our lot.  Now he comes to support us in distress.  In both bad times and good, we look to him for support and thank him for his help.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

(Daniel 7:9-10.13-14; II Peter 1:16-19; Mark 9:2-10)

There are many versions of the story of a non-Christian seeing a figure of Christ crucified for the first time.  In one such story an Asian exits a church in Florence.  He asks a person on the street, “Who is that guy hanging above the altar?” Certainly strangers will have questions for any group whose founder was executed.  It is said that the Transfiguration was included in the three synoptic gospels as a response to this kind of questioning.

A week ago before the Transfiguration Jesus told his disciples that he is going to be handed over to the authorities and killed.  Later he said that they should be prepared for the same treatment.  Now he wants to assure them that such mistreatment will lead to glory not to abuse.  In front of Peter, James, and John, he is transformed to shine like the sun.  Then the disciples hear a voice declaring that Jesus as God’s Son worth of their attention. 

Often Jesus’ cross is called a “scandal.”  It certainly requires explanation.  Jesus’ execution on a cross indicates how people, including government, can marginalize and even kill those with whom they disagree.  For us Christians Jesus’ crucifixion shows the extent of God’s love.  He allowed His Son to die in the vilest of ways so that our sins may be forgiven.