18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 6/8/2023 - Gospel: Mt 17: 1-9
Holy Fear
Jesus asked the apostles, what do people say about the Son of Man? They replied: Some say, you are a great prophet; others say you are Elijah, and others again, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Each of these sayings fails to reveal Jesus' true identity. Up in the mountain, for the first time, Peter, James and John; have experienced Jesus' holy splendour, and that is his true identity. This magnificent splendour overwhelms them. The Jesus, whom they know, now has transfigured. His face is brightening like the sun, his clothes are whitened. His voice is as loud as thunder which captures their spirit. There are several elements which always accompany God, wherever, and whenever God appears. It involves both nature and humans. Nature provides mountains, brightness, cloud, and a voice like thunder. On the human part, there is a surprise, the feeling of awe, and afterwards the wonder of understanding.
Nature becomes the tool to show God's glory. A mountain implies the greatness, the high, the width, and the depth of God. For God, the cloud serves as God's throne. Cloud comes and goes and constantly changes its shapes. It represents the mystery of God, who, we sometimes feel is very close, while other times is hidden. For us, the cloud becomes a shield of protection; it lessens the effect of ultraviolet rays. Cloud also controls the atmosphere's temperature. For the apostles, the cloud protects their eyes from blindness. The brightness comes not from the sun's rays, but rather from Jesus himself. It shines not just on his face but his clothing, into the surrounding areas. This brightness pervades not just the apostles' faces, but even breaks through their minds; and as well as their hearts. Moses' face was shining after encountering the Lord, and so do the apostles. This mysterious brightness is hidden, but revealed up on the mountain for the chosen ones. It is too bright for them to see Jesus directly, but must face down to avoid its greatness. It tells us that, we humans are unable to face God face to face, unless, to a certain degree, God allows that person to know God. Apart from Jesus, no human has ever been given that privilege.
Peter, on behalf of the apostles, proposes to build the three tents. Jesus ignores his request; but tells them to go down. It is ignored because this genuine, noble proposal is made at the wrong time, and the wrong place. It is spoken without knowledge as the text says. Obviously, remaining up in the mountain would mean avoiding the cross, or at least delaying the Father's will which is not what Jesus would do. This reason alone makes us believe that proposal doesn't come from God but from man. On the way down, Jesus reminds the apostles that His Passion is necessary for mankind. The voice sounds like thunder representing the powerful and greatness of God. It also reveals that nature always submits, and serves its Creator. Jesus talks to Elijah and Moses; which indicates that Jesus is the bridge between the Old and the New Testament. It means Jesus alone would perfect God's Covenant to save us with His own life and blood.
The fear of the apostles is a holy fear. A holy fear is the fear of not loving God as much as one would desire. It also reveals that we are very fragile, and weak, and in need of healing. Jesus touches the apostles to heal them, removing fear from their hearts.
On their way down, Jesus told the apostles to tell no one about the mountain experience until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. This reveals that the apostles would not fully understand the true Jesus' identity until after he rose from death. The discussion among them about what 'rising from the dead' could mean reveals, that the mystery of life; death; and resurrection is beyond human reasoning. We humans have no say in these mysteries. They are all God's gifts to us. We take them and enjoy what we receive.
We pray to be faithful to Jesus' voice as the Father told us, 'Listen to Him'.
Nature becomes the tool to show God's glory. A mountain implies the greatness, the high, the width, and the depth of God. For God, the cloud serves as God's throne. Cloud comes and goes and constantly changes its shapes. It represents the mystery of God, who, we sometimes feel is very close, while other times is hidden. For us, the cloud becomes a shield of protection; it lessens the effect of ultraviolet rays. Cloud also controls the atmosphere's temperature. For the apostles, the cloud protects their eyes from blindness. The brightness comes not from the sun's rays, but rather from Jesus himself. It shines not just on his face but his clothing, into the surrounding areas. This brightness pervades not just the apostles' faces, but even breaks through their minds; and as well as their hearts. Moses' face was shining after encountering the Lord, and so do the apostles. This mysterious brightness is hidden, but revealed up on the mountain for the chosen ones. It is too bright for them to see Jesus directly, but must face down to avoid its greatness. It tells us that, we humans are unable to face God face to face, unless, to a certain degree, God allows that person to know God. Apart from Jesus, no human has ever been given that privilege.
Peter, on behalf of the apostles, proposes to build the three tents. Jesus ignores his request; but tells them to go down. It is ignored because this genuine, noble proposal is made at the wrong time, and the wrong place. It is spoken without knowledge as the text says. Obviously, remaining up in the mountain would mean avoiding the cross, or at least delaying the Father's will which is not what Jesus would do. This reason alone makes us believe that proposal doesn't come from God but from man. On the way down, Jesus reminds the apostles that His Passion is necessary for mankind. The voice sounds like thunder representing the powerful and greatness of God. It also reveals that nature always submits, and serves its Creator. Jesus talks to Elijah and Moses; which indicates that Jesus is the bridge between the Old and the New Testament. It means Jesus alone would perfect God's Covenant to save us with His own life and blood.
The fear of the apostles is a holy fear. A holy fear is the fear of not loving God as much as one would desire. It also reveals that we are very fragile, and weak, and in need of healing. Jesus touches the apostles to heal them, removing fear from their hearts.
On their way down, Jesus told the apostles to tell no one about the mountain experience until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. This reveals that the apostles would not fully understand the true Jesus' identity until after he rose from death. The discussion among them about what 'rising from the dead' could mean reveals, that the mystery of life; death; and resurrection is beyond human reasoning. We humans have no say in these mysteries. They are all God's gifts to us. We take them and enjoy what we receive.
We pray to be faithful to Jesus' voice as the Father told us, 'Listen to Him'.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
