Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     Every seven years we interrupt the ordinal (Ordinary Time) passage of Sundays for a particularly important event.  Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord.  Always you hear this proclaimed on the second Sunday of Lent, weeks before the Passion of Christ.  This Sunday we have the privilege of contemplating the mystery of the hypostatic nature of Christ.  “Hypo” like a hypnotic needle or hypoglycemia refers to something that is under or below.  What is under or below the surface regarding Christ?

     As He walked among us it was obvious that His humanity was seen by all.  And even though He performed great “signs” or miracles people did not see what was underneath namely His Divinity.  Today we experience the Divine Nature of Christ in His Transfiguration.  Just as the chosen disciples Peter, James and John were overwhelmed by Who Jesus is, and being enshrouded in the “cloud” of the Holy Spirit, and hearing the voice of the Father, we too might find this encounter beyond our comprehension.  It must be meditated on frequently if not daily.  Why?  Because this is our God, He Who we will contemplate for all eternity, God willing.  We are not meant to be spectators but rather participants in the family of God.  This is not reserved for the future beyond time and space but indeed begins now.  The indwelling of the Holy Trinity begins at Baptism and becomes more and more obvious in our lives as we employ the heavenly grace bestowed on us in the Sacraments, most especially the Holy Eucharist  Why someone would absent themselves from the Real Presence of Christ is a mystery to me.  How can we possibly live without the Giver of life Himself?

     Perhaps the answer lies with us. Do we give evidence of the Presence of the Lord in our lives?  Do others see us transfigured by the redeeming grace of the Sacraments?  Let the brilliance of Him Who dwells in us shine forth.

With Blessings,

Father Langan