by Sister Madonna Swintkoske
“Lord, it is good that we are here.”
This Gospel reading brings back memories of my first day in the convent. On the bulletin board were the words, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” I thought it should say, “Lord, is it good for us to be here?”
Maybe it was part of me that didn’t want to change. Lent is an opportunity for us to change our lives –- to be transformed. Change is not easy. It costs.
The event in today’s Gospel happened just prior to Jesus’ passion and death. Jesus was helping the Apostles to see what the outcome would be after all of the suffering they and Jesus were about to face in Jerusalem. Suffering involves movement toward one form or another of transformation. In time, after the Apostles' suffering they would experience the glory of the Lord.
This Lent, let’s keep in mind the outcome presented to us in the Gospel –- the glory of the Lord. Let us continue to look up and see Jesus and listen to Him as we continue our journey of Lent.
Look & listen as we walk this Lenten journey!...wise counsel Sister, thank you!
"Sacrifice" is a word not often associated with the story of JESUS' Transformation, as I have known it. It was hard for me to make a connection, especially when one is accustomed to associating Beauty, Wonder, and Awe with the radiant and glorious experience on the mountain. Yet, perhaps this has given me an awareness that it is from LOVE Alone, that one has the capacity to suffer and sacrifice for the sake of another - others. For without LOVE, bitter resentment of suffering would take over our lives.
It seems the "gift" of the Divine Presence on the mountain made it possible for JESUS (and consequently, later, his followers) to endure the Time of Suffering & Sacrifice, and to even know a joy and peace of belovedness in it. Wanting others to come to know God's Love is motivation for sacrifice.
Incidentally, the word, "sacrifice," itself, speaks of this Love-Made-Holy (the on-going process of transformation): from Latin sacrificium; related to sacrificus ‘sacrificial,’ from sacer ‘holy.’