There are Two Kinds of People
"Essentially, there are two kinds of people, because there are two
kinds of love. One is holy, the other is selfish. One is subject to
God; the other endeavors to equal him.
One is friendly; the other is envious. One wishes for the neighbor
what it would wish for itself; the other wishes to subject the
neighbor to itself. One guides the neighbor in the interests of the
neighbor's good; the other guides the neighbor for its own interests."
--St. Augustine--The Literal Meaning of Genesis 11, 15
Prayer: Lord, you are delightful food for the pure of heart.
--St. Augustine--Confessions 13, 21
<<>><<>><<>>
August 6th - Transfiguration of Our Lord
By Father Paul Sretenovic
A reminder of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the
three Apostles, Peter, James, and John, can be found in the Mass when
Jesus is lifted up by the priest for all to adore Him, as was the case
for the Apostles, who bowed before the Divinity. In fact, just as
Moses and Elias bore witness to the divinity of Christ on Mount Tabor,
so also the angels, although invisible, are present at every
Consecration of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord.
Granted, the types of miracles are different. In the first, awe comes
much more naturally, given Jesus’ change in appearance, not to mention
the presence of the two Old Testament figures. Yet, the second miracle
is more significant because ordinary substances are transformed into
God Himself.
There have been cases in Church History, however, where God has
intervened to make the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
apparent to the naked eye as the visible Body and Blood of Christ and
to give the faithful a sense of awe rivaling that of Peter, James, and
John as Christ was transfigured before them. We call these phenomena “Eucharistic miracles,” during which, at the time of the Consecration,
the bread and wine not only change their substance to become the Body
and Blood of Our Lord but also they become externally visible to the
eyes as such.
In some of the Eucharist miracles I am referring to, the Host gives
place to the figure of the Infant Jesus, whose Body is then held up by
the priest. Does this mean that Jesus is any more present than He
would have been had the Consecration happened as usual?
In substance, both the presences--with or without miracle--are the
same. Likewise Jesus was substantially the same in His normal life and
in the Transfiguration to the Apostles on Mount Tabor. What was added
in the latter was the visible confirmation of his Divinity, which
doubtlessly increases one’s faith, hope, and charity.
You may recall that in an article two weeks ago, I mentioned that Our
Lady appeared to both St. Dominic and to St. Simon Stock as a
safeguard against her children falling prey to two enemies of the
soul, pride and sensuality. Well, in similar fashion, I believe that
God granted these Eucharistic miracles as armor for the faithful
against the denial of the Real Presence by such influential heretics
as Berengarius of Tours in the 11th century, and later by the
Protestant heresiarchs during the Protestant Revolution of the 16th
Century. Those miracles were occurring in the first two millennia of Christianity, and they could continue into the third as a reminder
that Our Lord meant what He said when He told the Apostles in John’s
Gospel, “My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.”
Jesus was transfigured before the Apostles to strengthen their faith
in His divinity because their faith would be shaken during His
Passion, on Holy Thursday right through Good Friday. This miracle
would not prevent St. Peter and St. James from falling, just as the
Eucharistic miracles have not prevented even many faithful Catholics
from having periods of doubt and darkness in their spiritual life. But
it would prevent St. John from abandoning the way of the Cross. His
fidelity, which relied on his closeness to Our Lady, certainly was
strengthened by the remembrance of that glory he saw in the
Transfiguration.
Remembering the ways in which Jesus has chosen to manifest Himself
before the eyes of the Apostles and to certain privileged faithful
helps us to remember His promise to be with us all days, and to
overcome our doubts and discouragement along the “via dolorosa,” which
is what our day-to-day-life is.
Just as Ecumenical Councils have been called to deal with crises in
Faith, the Transfiguration and Eucharistic miracles increase our
certainty in the Divinity of Our Lord, which serves to prevent those
crises.
Our faith should not have to rely only on miracles, but rather should
depend upon our strong belief in the Divinity of Our Lord. Our charity
should depend upon our willingness to be united with Jesus Christ and
Mary on the way of the Cross at every moment of every day.
The Apostles would completely understand the gift of the
Transfiguration only after they drank from the cup of Our Lord’s
sufferings. We should recall that this is precisely the promise of Our
Divine Savior to St. James and St. John when He told them, “You will
drink the cup from which I drink.” Implied in this forewarning of
Christ is not simply a sharing in His death, but also in the interior sufferings that they would have to endure for the sake of His Name.
We should remember this in our days especially, because to be faithful
to the constant teaching and traditions of the Holy Catholic Church in
our difficult days mean we will have to share in the sufferings of
Christ. He is inviting us today to drink from the cup which He drank
from, the cup of being misunderstood, of isolation. It is not always
easy, but we should remember that the final end for our fidelity now
is to be united with him in the glory of Heaven. The Transfiguration
reminds us of that, just as it would remind the Apostles and prepare
them to fulfill their missions on earth in face of every adversity and suffering.
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j140sdTransfiguration_Streten_7-6.shtml
Saint Quote:
When it's God speaking.....the proper way to behave is to imitate
someone who has an
irresistible curiosity and who listens at keyholes. You must listen to everything God says
at the keyhole of your heart.
--St. John Vianney
Bible Quote:
Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us: that we might be made
the justice of God in him. Sin for us... That is, to be a sin
offering, a victim for sin. [2 Co 5:21] DRB
<><><><>
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ Your Son, You
strengthen our faith. As we listen to the voice of Your Son, help us
become heirs to eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)