Sunday, March 16, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

In this weekend's Gospel, we hear the remarkable story of Jesus taking three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a mountain where He transfigured before them. In that breathtaking moment, He revealed a glorious and mysterious appearance and conversed with two great ancestors of Israel, Moses and Elijah. Far beyond human imagination, His transfiguration amazed those three disciples as they witnessed His divine authority and sacred identity. Overcome with wonder, Peter asked if they could remain there and stay in that extraordinary moment of revelation with their Master.

However, instead of granting their request, Jesus led them back down the mountain and helped them to learn that His transfiguration did not happen only on that mountaintop, but throughout His entire earth-ly journey. Jesus had transfigured as a humble baby, born in a lowly manger and under the most mod-est of circumstances. Far beyond human expectations, He made the poor manger a place of miracles, and welcomed the Magi with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Jesus transfigured as a hum-ble servant, sent among the poor, the outcasts, and sinners. He performed miracles, including feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and raising the dead, to offer His compassion and grace to all. Jesus also transfigured as a shepherd guiding His flock, gathering the scattered, and leading them to their ultimate destination. He endured every attack from the hypocrites, faced the harshest sufferings, and ultimately overcame death itself. Finally, Jesus continues to transfigure Himself for us in the Eucharist. He be-comes the Eternal Bread as the sustenance for our souls and the strength for our faith. In the Sacred Eu-charist, Jesus reveals Himself to us in the most intimate way, inviting us to encounter the living Christ and to receive the incredible act of love that He displayed through His life, death, and resurrection for our salvation.

As we reflect on the Transfiguration on the mountain so long ago, let us also recognize the many other transfigurations of Jesus, both in the beauty and joy of life, and also in the struggles and sufferings we face. Let us witness His transfiguration in the Sacred Eucharist with honor and respect each time we participate in the Mass. As He is ever transfigured in the Sacraments, let us also be continually nour-ished, sanctified, and drawn closer to Him throughout this Holy Lent, during this Jubilee Year, and for-ever.

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.