The glory of the Cross
The Lord displays his glory before chosen witnesses and invests that bodily shape which he shared with others with such splendor rthat his face was like the sun's in brightness and his garments white as snow. And in this Transfiguration the foremost object was to remove the offense of the cross from his disciples' hearts and to prevent their faith being disturbed by the humiliation of his voluntary Passion by revealing to them the excellence of his hidden dignity.
But with no less foresight, the foundation was laid of holy Church's hope that the whole body of Christ might realize the character of the change which it would have to receive, since each member is called to share one day in the glory seen shining beforehand in its head...
“This is my beloved Son...; listen to him... Listen to him who opens the way to heaven, and by the punishment of the cross prepares for you the steps of ascent to the Kingdom. Why tremble to be redeemed? Why fear to be healed of your wounds, you who were wounded? Let that happen that Christ wills and I will. Cast away all fleshly fear and arm yourselves with the constancy that inspires faith. For it is unworthy for you to fear in the Savior's Passion what, by his good gift, you will not have to fear in your own death...”
In these three apostles the whole Church has learned everything that their eyes saw and their ears heard (cf. 1Jn 1,1). Let the faith of all, then, be established according to the preaching of the holy Gospel, and let no one be ashamed of Christ's cross, through which the world has been redeemed.
| Sunday, February 24, 2013 Second Sunday of Lent |
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