Homily: THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

“HEAR YE HIM”

Saint Matthew 17. 1-9

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
 20 January Anno Domini 2013

Fr Jay Watson SSP

In The Name + of Jesus

   Hear ye Him. Hear Jesus. Repent and believe.

   Jesus made the world in six days, perfect, and your parents ruined it all. There between fallen Adam on His right and the man’s less-than help(ful) mate on His left He changed their death sentence. He transfigured it to His own death.  Jesus covered them with the skins of His beautiful creations so that they would not be naked and cold.

  He stands before the Disciples on a hill—Jesus between Moses and Elias.  Moses was a murderer like his ancestor Cain.  Moses was a coward and shirker when he attempted to avoid the Lord’s call to liberate the Hebrews.  Christ transfigured him at the burning bush and was with him in his words and actions. The Prophet also doubted God’s mercy and love even after the Lord lifted him high in the defeat of the false prophets of Baal. Elias ran away and sulked in self-pity.  Jesus transfigured him too with His Words, The Word.

   He buried Moses in the cleft of HIs heart and transfigured Elias in a fiery chariot to His side.  His heart and His side, there on display at salvation’s summit.  There they stood, sinners Saved by Jesus’ Words and Actions; His love and Forgiveness.

   You disciples, grouped with the Three: Hear ye Him. Hear your Lord. Repent and believe. There is Petros on your left, impulsive roadblock to Calvary and denier of His Rabbi.  You are no better. There are Zebedee’s sons on your right, murderous and self-righteous—wishing to call down fire to destroy Samaritan women and children.  You are no better.  You murder with hatred for those who “cross you.”  You whine and complain far worse than Moses, Elias and their “children of Israel.”

   Jesus stands on Tabor to point the Three and you to The Mount Zion.  The Exodus is not out of Egypt to Palestine but out of death and decay to life and joy. The transfiguration of you and your brethren is not in blinding light and oracular visions. The Word transfigures.  Jesus obeyed for Moses’, Elias’, James’, Peter’s, John’s, and your disobedience.  He suffered and died the murders death…and the coward’s, denier’s, fornicator’s, liar’s, and gossiper’s death.  He died your death.

   Yes, there was His light, awe, peace and communion that day on the mountain.  But the true Transfiguration was to come at the hill; at the crucifix.  Not Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ arms to redeem, not the whirlwind upholding Elias to glory, but truth and righteousness, for you, meeting in Jesus’ passion of Body given and Blood shed.  Repent and Believe.  Believe the Word and His Words.

   A transfiguration awaits all of you now—this day at this altar.  Jesus comes to you as He did to the Three.  Elias and the Lawgiver are no more “gone” than they were then when no longer “visible” to naked sight.  The Patriarchs, Prophets, Kings and Hebrew Saints are in Jesus, with Jesus, and by Jesus; with the entire transfigured Host of Sabaoth.  As He touched Simon Peter and the Sons of Thunder, He will touch you with His Body and Blood.  His Father is well pleased with Him and He is well pleased with you for you are In Him and He in you.  Here ye Him, Hear ye the Word: “Take eat, the Body of Christ for you.  Take drink the Blood of Christ for you.” 

Arise, be not afraid.

In The Name of The Father and of + The Son and of The Holy Ghost