Tuesday, August 01, 2017

Reflection for Sunday, August 6; Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord; Matthew 17:1-9

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
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Reflection:
Do you want to be in heaven when your journey in this world is over? Of course you want to be in heaven only a fool would say that he doesn’t want to be in heaven.  Would you be willing to sacrifice something of yourself for you to go to heaven? Let us say, even a little bit of your comfortable life.

The episode of the Transfiguration of the Good Lord clearly tell us that there is heaven. And we should aspire to be heaven bound and not hell bound someday. However, there is no free ride going to heaven you have to sweat it out for you to go to heaven.

Many of us may be afraid to sweat it out for the simple reason that sweating it out would require for us to sacrifice something of ourselves. But what is sacrifice in exchange of heaven, what is sacrifice in exchange of everlasting life and what is sacrifice when you’ll be in the kingdom of God?

After the fleeting heavenly experience of Peter, James and John they descended back to this world. To face their respective share of sacrifice for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. They could have easily avoided the sacrifice by detaching themselves from their Lord and Master. But they chose to stick it out with Jesus in spite of all the hardships and trials.

What sacrifice/s for the advancement of the Kingdom of God are you willing to face head on so that you could also be in heaven someday? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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