Sharers in Divinity

The Transfiguration scene is like a corporate “board meeting” about to launch a venture to expand the family of God through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a consoling scene knowing that we are included in their deliberation for what they have so far accomplished for humanity. Present were the Holy Trinity, along with Moses representing the law, Elijah representing the prophets, as both helped prepare the coming of the mercy of God through the promised Messiah. The witnesses or observers were the core disciples of Jesus: Peter, James and John, who would later affirm this very encouraging event for the rest of their lives, most especially in times of tribulation. They too, would become the continuation of the greatest project which continues to unfold before our very eyes.

We cannot but be eternally grateful to God who faithfully fulfilled all his covenants of old, thus establishing us as part of his family. This belongingness we received from him through Jesus, his son, lifts up our dignity to new heights. Undoubtedly, similar to this is the inaudible prayer of the priest before the consecration, “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Jesus Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.”

Moreover, Jesus also teaches us the prayer, ‘Our Father’, definitely a prayer of belongingness. He manifested the holiness of God, fulfills God’s will, and brings the Kingdom of God to everyone. As God’s children, may we too fulfill what Jesus teaches us, for it is in his humanity that we see his divinity.

After the “board meeting”, Jesus led Peter, James and John down the mountain. In a short while, after all his loving efforts in his ministry, he will be rejected by his people, tried by the elders, and crucified on the Cross. This teaches us, as pilgrims, that we have to be ready to embrace the world as bearers of the Good News, and that we must relentlessly lead souls to God. Surely, we will also encounter the Cross, but take heart – the Holy Spirit will sanctify our efforts in this gargantuan task. We will never be alone! Let us therefore go to the Blessed Mother who expressed her fiat, thus accelerating our liberation that has been rolling since our first parents faltered. The train of salvation is before us, let us leap aboard before it leaves us in the dust. (Johnny Sulit)