Not all\nfears are bad. Some are necessary for healthy relationships. Matthew\u2019s\nnarrative of the Transfiguration tells us Peter, James, and John fall prostrate\nand were afraid when the bright cloud \u201ccast a shadow over them\u201d and said \u201cThis\nis my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Revised\nStandard Version will translate \u201cvery much afraid\u201d as \u201cwere filled with awe\u201d.\nThe bright cloud refers to Exodus 33:7-11. Moses would enter the Tent of\nMeeting and God would descend in a pillar of cloud and stand by the entrance to\nspeak to Moses \u201cface to face, as one does with a friend.\u201d The Israelites would\nstand at the entrances of their tents and prostrate themselves and worship when\nthe cloud descended. Hence, the Transfiguration reveals Jesus is God descended\nas the Word-made-flesh who speaks with Moses and Elijah face to face. Peter,\nJames, and John, then, represent the Israelites witnessing this event and rightfully\nworship God\u2019s imminently near presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holy fear\nacknowledges God\u2019s transcendence and imminence; God is both far, totally\n\u201cother\u201d from us, but so close that he wants friendship. \u201cJesus came and touched\nthem, saying, \u00abRise, and do not be afraid\u00bb\u201d. Scripture tells us \u201cfear of the\nLord is the beginning of wisdom.\u201d But wisdom is not man made; wisdom comes from\nGod. Yet, the wisdom of God is foolish to us because God\u2019s wisdom is the cross.\n\u201cWe preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to\nGentiles\u201d (1 Corinthians 1:23). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not even\nPeter is immune to the scandal of the cross as Christ called him \u201cSatan\u201d prior\nto the Transfiguration (cf. Matthew 16:22-23). The Transfiguration was to teach\nPeter, James, and John to let go of their fear of the cross. Christ has to\nembrace his cross so he can be the pattern of our obedience to the Father: \u201cIf\nany want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their\ncross and follow me\u201d (Matthew 16:24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And we are\nno different. This Lent, let us spend time and worship before the Lord in\nEucharistic Adoration speaking to him \u201cface to face\u201d. For Jesus wants us to see\nhim as a friend, like Moses, Peter, James, and John did. But, at the same time,\nthe Lord Jesus wants to reveal his full splendor to us as the Risen Lord who\nembraced his cross so that we may adore and worship him as \u201cour savior Christ\nJesus who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the\ngospel\u201d (2 Timothy 1:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joseph Yuson<\/strong> \u2013 St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fot. Marc Olivier Jodoin\/Unsplash.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2nd Sunday of Lent<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,17,18],"tags":[112,146],"class_list":["post-2217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-strona-glowna-najnowsze","category-strona-glowna-slider","tag-ii-sunday-of-lent","tag-joseph-yuson"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n