WE MUST LISTEN TO JESUS IF WE WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN
Jesus came into the world to transfigure our sinful bodies, into copies of His Glorious (sinless) Body (Phil 3:17-4). Only then, can we enter Heaven. Jesus reminds us that we are made-up of two natures: human and spiritual. Peter, while tired, was in awe of the beauty of the beatific vision, and announced how wonderful it was to be there. He was familiar with the old prophets who were in conversation with Jesus about His upcoming Passion and Death. Peter was listening but did not fully understanding their conversation about how Jesus would have to suffer and die to bring redemption to the world. He would have struggled to accept it. He may have used the suggestion to build the three tents as a delaying tactic to remain on the mountain. While, he did not know what he was saying, his human instinct may have made him hesitant to go down the mountain and face the reality, that if Jesus was to go through such suffering, then he, in some way, as a follower, knew through the Holy Spirit, that his turn would come to suffer and die too.
SUFFERING IS A NECESSITY TO BRING REDEMPTION
Peter would not have understood the meaning of the resurrection at this early stage of his faith journey. Then the voice from heaven commanded, “Listen to Him!” it was a call for Peter and the disciples to heed Jesus’ Words about the necessity of His suffering and death. Peter was not fully aware who Jesus was, and mistakenly identified Him as an equal to the two prophets (Mark 9:2-10) because he suggested building three tents of equal status. God intervened immediately to reveal the true identity of Jesus, by saying; ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to Him.’(Lk 9:28-36). In other words, He is the One, the Messiah, who the prophets preached about in the Old Testament. We are called not to be distracted by what the world has to offer and listen to Him too. He has come into the world to save the souls, or the spiritual nature of humanity, from ending up in the fires of hell. He is preparing us for His Second Coming.
JESUS SAID; ‘THIS IS MY BODY AND MY BLOOD’
We must listen and understand what He said at the Last Supper, which is replicated in every Mass. He refers to the Eucharist or Holy Communion as ‘My Body’. Another transfiguration, or what is called, a transubstantiation, takes place in every Mass when the earthly nature of the bread and wine are changed and transfigured into the divine nature of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is not a symbol of His Body and Blood, but is now His sacramental Body, clothed in Eucharistic Flesh, enabling us to physically feed our spiritual bodies weekly. We witness the transfiguration in every Mass. When we hold Jesus in Holy Communion, see His Eucharistic Face shine brightly upon us. If we do not receive Holy Communion in this world, then our spiritual bodies will collapse from spiritual starvation and never make it to heaven. Both our bodies need feeding to gain strength.
DO NOT LISTEN TO SATAN
Elijah represents all the prophets who spoke about the coming of the Chosen One. Moses represents the Divine Law or Ten Commandments, given to him by God. Jesus has come to fulfil the Law through our faith in Him. The Word of God, spoken through the prophets, has now become Flesh, visible in the Person of Jesus Christ. Many Catholics refuse to listen to Jesus and not believe in the Eucharist (Holy Communion). They prefer to listen to the devil and stay away from Mass. They live by their own worldly commandments, which will not get them into heaven. Our souls should mirror the loving and merciful nature of Jesus. If our souls are darkened with sin on the day of our Judgement, then they will not appear brilliant as lightening or be dazzling white, meaning, they will not resemble the purity and sinlessness of Jesus. To be transfigured on earth by God means to obey His divine will and deal with everything and everybody in a Christ-like manner. The Divine Mercy of Jesus transfigures our souls in confession, making us spotlessly clean from sin. Jesus offered His sufferings as a holy sacrifice to bring about the redemption and transfiguration of the world. We are called to be partakers in this eternal redemption, by also offering our own sufferings and hardships of life to God, as a holy sacrifice. Let us not complain, but go through our passion and cross like Jesus, in order to be found worthy of resurrection to eternal life in heaven. God bless, Fr. Brendan.