Homily for the Last Sunday afer Epiphany

As we look ahead to the season of lent, let us plan to make it a time of transformation.

In our first reading we saw Elijah taken up to heaven in the fiery chariot and whirlwind. Elisha, his successor receives a first born’s inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17 requires that the eldest son inherit a double portion of his father’s wealth). Three times Elijah invites Elisha to travel no farther: he tests Elisha, to decide whether he is truly loyal. Each time, Elisha proves his loyalty, and so the two travel southward from “Gilgal” to “Bethel,” then east to “Jericho” and finally to “the Jordan.” Elijah offers Elisha a reward for his loyalty. Then Elisha requests that he receive the principal (“double”) share of Elijah’s spirituality.

The motivation behind our second reading is that Paul has received a letter from the Corinthian church and set about answering their questions. It appears that some have criticized him for failing to make the good news clear, or for limited success in bringing people to Christ.

Our story from Mark’s Gospel depicts Jesus Transfiguration. Jesus’ glory is revealed to his closest disciples. Again, he orders them to keep silent. What led up to this was Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection, and that God’s kingdom will begin soon. “... the Son of Man must . . . be rejected . . . and be killed, and . . . rise again. He said this quite openly.” Then: if any want to follow him, let them renounce their self-centeredness. Those who play it safe will perish, those who give their lives for him and the gospel, will be saved.

Now “six days” after Peter’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus takes the inner circle of disciples (“Peter and James and John”) up a mountain. There he is “transfigured,” changed in form, metamorphosed. Some scholars point out that Elijah represents the prophets and Moses the law, the basic authority in Judaism. The proclamation spoken by the divine voice is like that at Jesus’ baptism revealing that The Son of Man is Son of God. The vision ends “suddenly.”

Lent is one of those realities that we know almost too well and often misinterpret. It is a season of introspection and penitence for our misdeeds. However, the focus is really much broader than this. Its ultimate purpose is not humbling ourselves. It is reaching for a spiritual goal, or personal transformation. Lent is a season of pursuing personal holiness. This may sound strange but really we are all called to holiness. Not the kind of heroic holiness we read about in the lives of the saints or in the stories of the Bible. We are called to a simple “every day” holiness. This kind of holiness is transforming. It does change one’s life, and the way one is perceived by others.

I am sure you have met and know individuals who just impress you with their goodness. That is a mark of personal holiness. Sometime we are not even aware of the goodness we exude from our selves. This is a season to get back in touch with all these things.

This year, I would like to encourage all of us to focus less on removing something from our lives: bad habits, favorite foods, etc. And to focus more on what we need to add to our lives: daily prayer, a greater awareness of God’s presences, charity, forgiveness of others, etc. During this week please think and pray about these ideas.