Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp,
Lenten greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ. On this Second Sunday of Lent, Holy-Mother Church offers us a beautiful Gospel story of the Transfiguration, in which Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a mountain and He transfigured before their eyes.
This story of the Transfiguration contains some deep reflections for each of us. However, before delving into the reflection of the Transfiguration, it is necessary to learn that six days prior to this extraordinary event, at Caesarea Philippi, Peter confessed Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God (Mt. 16: 16). Upon hearing Peter’s confession, Jesus told him that He “must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mt. 16: 21). Yet, Peter had a hard time accepting Jesus’ words; he took Jesus aside and rebuked Him, saying: “Never Lord. I will never let this happen to you!” (Mt.16:22). But Jesus scolded him, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mt. 16:23).
Having seen how Peter and some of the disciples had a hard time accepting Jesus’ mission, Jesus took them to a high mountain and from there He transfigured before their eyes. First, the Transfiguration of Jesus shows us the glory of God. This is who and how God is to us: God is the perfect Light; He shines and glorifies us in His Son Jesus. Second, Jesus’ glory, which is the glory of God the Father, overwhelms us, like it did to the three apostles. Third, in showing His glory, Jesus shows us that He wants us to bathe in His glory, for we are called “children of God.” Lastly, the Transfiguration in a beautiful way offers hope to the disciples as they would one day take on the mission of Jesus.
Everyday, our faith in Jesus may be challenged by social factors, and such factors may lead us to give up our faith. Some may say that to follow Christ is too hard and challenging. However, we should not give up our faith in Jesus easily because Jesus said to Peter and to us: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with his angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done” (Mt. 16:24-27).
As we continue our Lenten journey, may our faith in Jesus be strong. Mary, Joseph, and Saint Polycarp: pray for us.
Father Viet Peter Ho
Pastor
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