Daily Readings Reflection for 2/21/09

Reflection on the Daily Readings for 2/21/09 by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-7. Psalm 145:2-3.4-5.10-11. Mark 9:2-13. Lectionary
# 340:

Were you surprised to see a reading from Hebrews again? Genesis
continued to be very enticing with the story of our origins from creation
down to Noah. Fascinating, exciting, and intriguing are words that come to
mind when you hear these opening chapters of Genesis. Why stop? Well, we
need a summary of what they said and in the Epistle to the Hebrews we have
a magnificent one given by an Alexandrian Jewish Christian who writes one
of the most literary and theological pieces in the New Testament. He
summarizes from the story of Abel then to Enoch and Noah. The precise
point of the summary is to show us that faith and covenantal love on the
part of God brought these righteous persons to the kindgom of God--heaven.
They are meant as examples for us; real heroes who do not let us down with
addictions.
We then can sing or recite today's Psalm with joy for it is a prayer
of praise and thanksgiving."Great is the Lord and highly to be praised.
Every day I will bless you and I will praise your name forever and ever."
Mark then greets us with the narrative of the Transfiguration where
Peter, James, and John experience Jesus as the fulfillment of Elijah, the
Prophet, and Moses the Revealer of a covenant made on Mount Sinai. The
symbolism speaks volumes for us as we meditate upon it. It calls us to be
transformed into other Christs for the sake of the kingdom of God. God
proclaims Jesus as Servant and Son. Jesus, realizes that he is to be a
suffering-servant messiah not a powerful royal political one. These three
chosen disciples are to keep the secret of Jesus but they now know what
lies ahead for them. The Resurrection will help them to understand what
the Transfiguration meant and will enable them to continue the mission of
Jesus' proclamation and salvation. We are fortunate to have this reading
just a few days before Ash Wednesday. We are during Lent to put on the
mind of Christ and to be transformed into Christ-like persons. And this
pericope from Mark makes it clear that Jesus will be the fulfillment of the
prophets, the Mosaic covenant, and the Wisdom of the Writings of Israel's
sages. Amen.