2nd Sunday of Lent 21.2.16 The Fulfilment
Moses represents the Law, and Elijah the Prophets.
The Law is what we ought to do, and the Prophecies are what we ought to believe.
This covers our whole system of belief, and the behaviour that should come from those beliefs – what we believe (faith); what we do (morals).
There should be complete harmony between the two because the moral imperatives arise out of the beliefs.
For example, if we believe in one God, who is eternal and perfect (faith), it follows that we should love that same God (morals – first and greatest command).
We regard human life as sacred because created by God (faith); so we should not kill (morals – fifth commandment).
Some of these commands would be covered by the natural law anyway, but they take on a greater urgency when seen to flow from the nature of God Himself.
Our Lord is the source of both the faith and the morals. He is the be-all and the end-all, Alpha and Omega. He is the source of Law because He is the source of Being.
If we disobey Him in any way, we are upsetting the perfect harmony of His creation. If we obey we are maintaining or restoring that harmony.
For example, if we feed the hungry, we are restoring the order of God's original plan that everyone should have enough to eat.
So we see that our religion is not just abstract rules and beliefs. Both our beliefs and rules are very specific and practical, deriving from perfect theory. It is the best of all worlds when both theory and practice are perfect.
Our Lord is the centre, where it all holds together. He is greater than Moses and Elijah, and He is revealed today as the fulfilment of all that they expressed and represented.
Our Lord is perfect in divinity and humanity. He is revealed to us, just for a moment, in His glory, to help us remember His importance and centrality.
Many do not grasp His importance; there are many false ways of seeing Him.
One of the common errors of today is to see Him only as human, and a rather confused human at that. He is reduced to just a prophet, a philosopher, a do-gooder - but not God, and certainly not the Saviour of the world.
But He is more than all the things they call Him.
He is unique and so far above other religious or philosophical figures that no comparison is possible.
Who else is crucified for the sins of the world? Who else can raise Himself from the dead?
Who else can teach with such authority, or back up his teaching with miracles?
So that we do not forget; so that everyone has a chance to know: we have this event of the Transfiguration. Here the Father tells us: this is no hippie; this is no weak person.
Listen to Him! You will find all the answers here.
In all the confusion; while the world still tries to bury Him under falsehoods and distortions, we will never allow ourselves to be distracted.
We will be like the Palm Sunday crowd, shouting Hosanna; but not changing to Crucify Him! If even the stones shall shout, then we will shout louder.
He is the Lawgiver and the Prophet, the Creator, the Saviour, the Merciful Judge – if we believe in Him we will do as He asks.
It will require from us sometimes to walk in darkness, relying only on faith; and sometimes to be in a minority as we seek to keep commands that others will ignore.
It will be worth it because eventually it will lead to our own glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment