"This is my beloved Son; listen to him"

Sunday (3/12): "This is my beloved Son; listen to him"
Godpel Reading: Mark 9:2-10

2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James
and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by
themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and
his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on
earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them
Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then
Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be
here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one
for Moses, and one for Elijah." 6 He did not know what
to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud
overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a
voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" 8
Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with
them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming
down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one
about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man
had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to
themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead
could mean.
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As I was reading this Gospel story of Jesus'
transfiguration on the mountaintop, a question came to mind:
Am I prepared to see God's glory?
What would happen if I witnessed the glory
of God?
Well, a few days ago I saw the shining glory of gods
and goddesses, sort of. It took place on the hills of
Hollywood and it was publicized as the annual Academy
award ceremony. It was watched by thousands in the Kodak
theater that night, as well as millions of people
gathered around the TV set like myself. When Movie
Stars stepped onto the red carpet, their faces were
beaming and glowing under the illuminating lights and
camera flashes as well as thunderous cheer. It was as
if the Greek gods and goddesses of ancient Mt. Olympus were
descending to become new modern day deities,
who today seem to be personified by various celebrities
in the entertainment business.  Everybody has his or her
favorite celebrity. How about you? My favorite one is
Reese Weatherspoon.
What is depicted in today’s Gospel story of Jesus
seems to have some similarity with the Academy award
ceremony in Hollywood.
All the major Stars in scriptures, both of Old and New
Testament were gathered for once to have a meeting.
There is nothing like this in any other scene in scriptures.
Where else in bible the meeting of Moses, Elijah, and
Jesus was recorded? Even the three disciples Peter,
James and John, who were standing there as spectators
attract our attention, because we know they became the
star players of Christian Church history.
Angels spread a red carpet under the feet of three
celestial celebrities. Jesus was transfigured and his
clothes were radiating in reflection of heavenly
light. And it was Jesus who received highest honor
award from God the father. He was proclaimed as God’s
son, God’s Beloved and granted with the divine
authority, as God said, “Listen to him!"
When the meeting of three was over and Jesus came back
to be with disciples, he ordered them not to tell what
they saw on the mountain, until after he would be
risen from the dead. 
At the academy awards event, actors and actresses are given an
honorable reward in recognition for their talents and efforts in
the cinematic world. But God had a different plan for
honoring his only son. God bestowed mortal life and a resurrection upon Jesus.
Naturally the disciples cannot understand. They saw the
glory of God, but rising from the dead seemed to have
nothing to do with God’s glory, which was already
revealed in Jesus’ dazzling transfiguration.
With this Gospel story, I realize in this Lenten
season my prayer should be to accept what God has
prepared for me. We believe that God already knows
what we need even before we try to ask. Did Jesus
really ask for his suffering and death in order to
rise again?
What becomes clear to me is, Jesus must have asked through
prayer that he would be able to sacrifice the most important gift he
has been given by God. He knew that God had sent him
to save the sinners. He honors God’s will for
salvation and fully participates in his plan by
offering himself at disposal of God as the sacrificial
lamb.
We wait in hope to witness his death and resurrection
through this lent. When Jesus comes again on Easter,
we will fully understand what he meant by his request
for waiting in silence.

Augustine Won