1990 March 11 – 2nd Sun Lent (Bulletin Letters)

1990 March 11 – 2nd Sun Lent (Bulletin Letters)

2nd Sun of Lent Cycle A (Transfiguration)

Mt 17, 1 – 9

Dear Friends:

“JESUS TOOK PETER, JAMES, AND HIS BROTHER JOHN AND LED THEM UP A HIGH

MOUNTAIN BY THEMSELVES HE WAS TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Mt. 17/1:

Our Lenten lectionary readings follow a yearly pattern. Last week the Gospel text was Matthews’ version of Jesus’ Temptation in the Desert. This week we get Matthews version of the Transfiguration. Like the desert temptation story, the Transfiguration is found in all three Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Each Gospel uses the story for basically the same reason. It is meant to give the disciples and the original readers of the text a ‘shot in the arm’, a needed perspective. In the progression of the Gospel story, Jesus’ ministry had taken a sobering turn towards Jerusalem. The disciples were confronted with some of the harsh realities of Jesus’ mission. Prior to the Transfiguration story Jesus had just informed his disciples of his intentions to move on to Jerusalem where he expected to be put to the test. Jesus told his disciples “that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly there at the hands of the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes, and to be put to death and raised up on the third day.”(Mt. 16/21). In this, Jesus’ first prediction of his death at the hands of the leaders of the nation, the disciples hear for the first time the high cost of being a follower of Jesus.  Jesus tells them, “If anyone wishes to come after me, they must deny their very self, take up their cross and begin to follow in my footsteps.” (Mt. 16/24). For the disciples, all of a sudden, the Good News was not such good news after all. They needed a lift in their spirits; they needed ‘shot in the arm’. The Transfiguration was that needed ‘shot in the arm’.

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain and is transfigured before their very eyes. Alongside Jesus, Moses, and Elijah appear. Then a cloud over shadows them and out of the cloud the voice of God is heard, “This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests. Listen to him.” (Mt. 17/5). In the world of special effects the Transfiguration pulls out all the stops. Jesus is transformed to a beatific state — “his face became as dazzling as the sun.” (Mt. 17/2). Moses and Elijah, two of the biggest figures in Israel’s history, appear with Jesus and the Lord God Almighty gives his personal seal of approval to his Son, Jesus. In the world of personal endorsements, it doesn’t get any better.

You can be sure, on their way down from the mountaintop, despite their fears, the disciples knew they were following the right guy in Jesus.

90 03 11 -Angela Cordaro  A CLEAN SHAVEN PRIEST! St. Anne’s Italian Pasta Dinner & Yard Sale was a great success!  Over $1200 was raised for the parish. A great time was had by all. I want to thank all the folks who made it possible.  It was a great community builder. A special thanks to my MOM! Our Italian credentials were on the line and she didn’t let us down. “Great sauce Mom”! When we reached the $1,000 mark, I shaved my beard, as I had promised. I kept my Moustache. I’m not sure I like it just yet.  I’ll give it a trial time.

90 03 11 -Resistance THE “I HELPED PUT FR. FRANK WHERE HE BELONGS” T-SHIRTS WILL BE HERE IN TWO WEEKS. MY TRIAL DATE WILL BE SET SOMETIME AFTER EASTER. My March 26th trial date has been canceled. Judge Strom has just started a four-week trial and has cleared his Court calendar. It looks like I will get a trial date for some time in April or May. My attorney has petitioned the Court to give us three weeks’ notice prior to trial. That should give us enough time to prepare for my possible imprisonment. I will keep you posted on further developments.

 

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