Our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified body....
F ather Vincent has recently brought to the Mount’s galleria a collection of new icons written by several religious women in Kentucky and Indiana. We have seen in the last century a reawakening of devotion to these extraordinary images, and their power to reintroduce us to the Lord and his saints. Although they come from the eastern rites of the Catholic communion with their mysticism and ancient majesty, icons appeal to the western world. We have been overwhelmed and sated by mundane, ugly pictures both secular and religious. They have little depth, meaning, or authority; we should not even glance at some of them. Icons invite us to gaze into them with a sense of wonder which becomes sorrow for our sins, gratitude for the gift of heavenly love, and joy in the Sacred Presence of Mystery.
They have been described as windows into eternity. Gazing upon an icon we find the Lord, his Mother Mary, or one of their fellow citizens gazing back at us with understanding, compassion, and intense love. We might also hear within our hearts the icon's invitation to come in through its narrow gate, and enter that eternal city. We are no longer aliens there, but citizens.
Today's story of the Lord's conversation with two citizens of heaven, Moses and Elijah, has inspired thousands of icons; and may be the original inspiration of all icons. The disciples suddenly found themselves in the presence of three transcendent visitors from another dimension within God's created universe. They had apparently fallen asleep at the very window of heaven, or perhaps at the foot of Jacob's stairway to heaven.
We can forgive them for thinking they should capture the moment and establish a shrine with three tents. Perhaps the whole world could come to this place to encounter the holiness, mystery, and wonderful joy of eternal life.
As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.
Perhaps the Father of faith and the disciples of Jesus had to fall asleep to our world before they could have even a momentary glimpse of eternity. Christians also must periodically turn away from the things of this world – or fall asleep to them – to contemplate heavenly glory. Without that vision of eternity, without the memory of our past and the promise of our future, we have no reason to call ourselves Christian, and nothing to say to the citizens of this world. If we are citizens only of this world and not of the Kingdom of God we are salt that has lost its taste, and might be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, to sit upon his glorious throne, with all the nations assembled before him.
On that day, every citizens of earth will recognize God’s beloved son and and they will listen to his voice. They will eagerly hear his judgment; some will be overwhelmed with joy, gratitude, and relief; others will be stricken with horror.
The transfiguration reminds us that we are not citizens of this world, despite whatever patriotic feelings we might have for this or any particular nation. As Saint Paul said, We have our citizenship in heaven and we look with longing through Icons to see our homeland.
Because we do not aspire to be wealthy in this world we don't pore over the Conde Nast Traveler or Global Living Magazine. Because we do not dream of glory in the Wonderful World of Sports we have no need to gaze through the pixels to learn about March Madness, or who’s playing for the Cincinnati Reds. Because we do not dream of keg parties and orgies, we purge and purify our imaginations of pornography and pray that icons might heal its scars.
The blameless and upright one fears God and turns away from evil. Those who seek the eternal country surely live a blameless and upright life. They are blameless in their deeds, upright in their faith; blameless in the good actions they perform here on earth, upright in the lofty ideals they perceive deep within themselves.
We have heard Our Father in heaven demand that we know and recognize his beloved son. Jesus is the new Moses who gives us our new law of life; he is the prophet Elijah who speaks a fiery word of judgment and purges a nation of tyranny and idolatry. We have heard the Father command us to listen to Jesus as we make our pilgrimage toward Holy Week, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.