Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord [B], August 6, 2006

 

Readings
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
2 Peter 1:16-19
Mark 9:2-10

Calendar
August 6: Feast of the Transfiguration
August 6: 60th Anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima in 1945
August 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous People
August 9: 60th Anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb over Nagasaki in 1945
August 11: Feast of Saint Clare of Assisi
August 12: International Youth Day - theme "Tackling Poverty Together" (www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm)

Quotes
The Risen Christ signals the paths of hope
along which we can advance together
towards a world more just and mutually supportive,
in which the blind egoism of the few
will not prevail over the cries of pain of the many,
reducing entire peoples
to conditions of degrading misery.
May the message of life proclaimed by the angel
near the stone rolled back from the tomb
overturn the hardness of our hearts;
may it lead to removing unjustified barriers
and promote a fruitful exchange between peoples and cultures.
John Paul II, Urbi et Orbi Message, Easter, 23 April 2000

Today our prime educational objective must be to form men [and women] for others; men [and women] who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ - for the God-man who lived and died for all the world; men [and women] who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; men [and women] completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for all is a farce.
Pedro Arrupe SJ at the 1973 International Congress of Jesuit Alumni of Europe

The fundamental starting point for all of Catholic social teaching is the defense of human life and dignity: every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and has an inviolable dignity, value, and worth, regardless of race, gender, class, or other human characteristics.
Catholic Bishops of the United States, Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice

The spiritual life depends on the Unseen. Each day try to see more good in people, more of the Unseen in the seen.
Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Thoughts for Your Consideration
The gospel story of the transfiguration is about seeing in a new way.
The disciples see Jesus in a new way.
They understand the presence of God in an amazing experience.
Everything now looks different.

* In the midst of our complex contemporary world, the gospel invites us to be free enough to see things in a new way. In the midst of war and violence, the gospel invites us to see the presence of God and God's invitation to peace. In the midst of poverty and injustice, the gospel invites us to hear God's invitation to respect the dignity of every human person and the need for justice for all.

* In the complex media culture of the 21st century, there is both opportunity and challenge. Those of us in the technologically rich part of our world can often get information about the whole world in an instant. We can see the world and its problems as never before. We may also find that our seeing is limited by the viewpoint of powerful media companies or by the cultural bias around us. We have to work hard to see things as they are. In some way we (as individuals and as a world community) need a "transfiguration experience" to see things in a new way -- from the point of view of Christ, from the point of view of the poor and powerless, from the point of view of other cultures.

* The Transfiguration is a sign of great hope. The disciples discover that it is possible to see the presence of God in Jesus. It is possible to see things in a new way. It is possible for us today to see God in others. It is possible to let go of racism, to let go of the trap of materialism and the addiction to money, to let go of power and control, to let go of violence and militarism, to let go of inaction, to let go of our blindness and selfishness. (It is even possible to let go of the religious experience on the mountain and come down and find God in all things.)

* If Christ is to be found in all human beings, the gospel story reminds us of the dignity of all people shared with Christ. We too are "beloved." All men and women are "beloved." The dignity of all human beings is one of the central truths of Catholic Social Teaching.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
What experience has helped you to be more aware of the presence of God in the world? To be better able to see and understand those who are different than yourself? To see the poor and needy of the world?

Actions - Links
August 6 is the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945. The Hiroshima Peace Site (www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/top_e.html) and the Kid's Peace station (www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/frame/kids_e/index.html) have background and links on efforts at peace and the prevention of atomic war. Education for Justice (www.educationforjustice.org) also has fact sheets, activities, and prayer services for this day. Simply click on "Justice Topics" and choose "Peace" from the list.

Pax Christi (http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_events_more.asp?id=1029 ), the Center of Concern (http://www.coc.org/index.fpl/1090/article/9498.html) and many other organizations have made public statements on the violence in the Middle East go to.

Many resources about current issues of war and peace can be found at the site of the America Friends Service Committee (http://www.afsc.org/).

Prayers of Intercession

Response: God of Peace, lead us on the way of peace.

As we remember the atomic bombs dropped on the people of Japan 61 years ago, we pray that these weapons will never be used again. We pray . . .

As we hear of the recent fighting in and around Lebanon and Israel, we pray that the Holy Spirit will lead our world on a new way to peace. We pray . . .

As war continues in Iraq and Afghanistan, we pray for divine help to show us how to build peace. We pray . . .

As we experience the proliferation of weapons of all sorts all over our world, we pray that we can finally use our resources for the good of people and not for destruction. We pray . . .

As we see economic injustice all around us, we pray that the spirit will lead us to do what leads to justice for all. We pray . . .

As we recall the Transfiguration experience, we pray that we will all see in it a new way and allow our new vision to transform our actions into the way of peace and justice for all. We pray . . .

Prayers

Liberator God
Set me free to see
To see the world as it is
To see its people as they are.

Divine Mother
Help me not to be afraid
Not to be afraid of the poor
Not to be afraid of the rich.

Joyful Friend:
Let me come alive
Alive this day in my prayer
Alive this day in my action
Alive with the works of justice and peace
Alive this day in your liberating spirit.

* * *

God, help me to see.
God, help me to see your wonders.
God, help me to see your goodness all around me.

God, help me to be fearless.
God, help me to be fearless in my seeing.
God, help me to be fearless in seeing whatever is there.

God, help me to see the dignity and wonder of my sisters and brothers.
God, help me to see the dignity and wonder of people as they are.
God, help me to see the dignity and wonder even when I am overwhelmed by my judgments.

God, help me to be part of the world.
God, help me to be part of the world in its beauty and goodness.
God, help me to be part of the world in its diversity and mystery.

God, give me the courage to look at the sin of the world.
God, give me the courage to look at the sin of the world with a loving heart.
God, give me the courage to look at the sin of the world with a forgiving spirit.

God, heal our violence, racism, sexism, militarism, greed, and pride.
God, heal our culture, our nation, our rivalry, our jealousy.
God, heal our political institutions, our government, our political parties, and our religions.

God, heal our limited perspective and open our eyes wide.
God, heal our parochial plans and let our vision include the whole world.
God, heal our tiny projects and make them projects for the big world.

God, make us new.
God, make our institutions new.
God, make all things new and renewed.

Amen.