Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Gospel today, the Transfiguration, is one that I have always found challenging. Fr. Postell, S.J. once asked the assembled students when Jesus realized he was God. The Jesuits were founded by a wounded Spanish soldier and, of all religious, they seem to be set off on long range patrol in pursuit of truth with confidence that they can find their way back. He referred to a passage in Mark in which Jesus said he was going to Jerusalem and implied he might be killed. He told this to Peter who objected to his going. I assume this passage may recapitulate a dream Peter had along the way. Perhaps it was a dream of someone else. Regardless, the fact that the vision includes Moses and Elijah shows how embedded the Apostles were in the Jewish tradition and how important it was for the regulation of their identity.

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