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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
On
Being Transfigured
"To Enter Into Life It Is Necessary to Listen to Jesus"
H.H. Benedict XVI
February 17, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Yesterday, the spiritual exercises concluded here in the apostolic
palace. As happens every year this retreat saw the Pope and his
co-workers in the Roman Curia united in prayer and meditation. I
thank those who were near to us spiritually: May the Lord give them
recompense for their generosity.
Today, the Second Sunday of Lent, continuing along the way of
penitence, the liturgy, after having presented the Gospel of Jesus'
temptations in the desert last Sunday, invites us to reflect on the
extraordinary event of the transfiguration on the mountain.
Considered together, both episodes anticipate the paschal mystery:
Jesus' struggle with the tempter is the prelude to the great final
duel of the passion, while the light of his transfigured body
anticipates the glory of the resurrection.
On the one hand we see Jesus fully man: He even shares temptation
with us. On the other hand, we contemplate the Son of God: He
divinizes our humanity. In this way we can say that these two
Sundays act as pillars upon which rest the whole edifice of Lent
right up to Easter, and, indeed, the whole structure of Christian
life, which essentially consists in the paschal dynamism -- from
death to life.
Mountains -- like Tabor and Sinai -- are the place of nearness to
God. In relation to daily existence, the mountain is the elevated
space where the pure air of creation is breathed. It is the place of
prayer, where one is in the presence of the Lord, as were Moses and
Elijah, who appeared alongside the transfigured Jesus and spoke to
him of the "exodus" that awaited him in Jerusalem, that is, his
Passover.
The transfiguration is an event of prayer: Praying, Jesus is
immersed in God, he is united intimately to him, he adheres with his
human will to the Father's will of love, and in this way light
invades him and the truth of his being appears visibly: He is God,
light from light. Even his robes become white and luminous. This
makes one think of baptism, of the white robes worn by the
neophytes. Those who are reborn in baptism are clothed in light,
anticipating heavenly existence, which the Book of Revelation
represents with the symbol of white robes (cf. Revelation 7:9,13).
This is the crucial point: The Transfiguration is an anticipation of
the Resurrection, but this presupposes death. Jesus manifests his
glory to the apostles so that they have the strength to face the
scandal of the cross and understand that it is necessary to pass
through many tribulations to reach the kingdom of God. The voice of
the Father, which resounds from on high, proclaims Jesus as his
beloved Son, as in the baptism in the Jordan, adding: "Listen to
him" (Matthew 17:5). To enter into life it is necessary to listen to
Jesus, to follow him along the way of the cross, carrying, like him,
the hope of the resurrection in our heart. "Spe salvi," saved in
hope. Today we can say: "Transfigured in hope."
Turning now in prayer to Mary, we recognize in her the human
creature interiorly transfigured by the grace of Christ, and we
entrust ourselves to her guidance to continue in the journey of Lent
with faith.
[After the Angelus, the Holy Father said the following in Italian:]
I am following with concern the persistent manifestations of tension
in Lebanon. For almost three months the country has not been able to
appoint a head of state. The efforts to calm the crisis and the
support offered by numerous high-profile members of the
international community, even if they have not yet achieved
anything, demonstrate the intention to identify a president who will
be a president for all Lebanese and in this way create a basis for
overcoming the existing divisions. Unfortunately, reasons for worry
are not lacking, above all because of the strange verbal violence
and because of those who put their trust in force of arms and in the
physical elimination of adversaries.
Together with the Maronite patriarch and all the Lebanese bishops, I
ask you to join with my supplication of Our Lady of Lebanon, that
she encourage the citizens of that dear nation, and the politicians
in particular, to work without ceasing for reconciliation, for a
truly sincere dialogue, for peaceful co-existence and for the good
of a homeland deeply felt as common.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[The Holy Father said in English:]
I greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today's
Angelus, especially the group of pilgrims from Saint Ansgar's
Cathedral in Copenhagen. I pray that your visit to Rome may
strengthen your faith and deepen your love for Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Saviour. In this Sunday's Gospel, we hear how Jesus was
transfigured in the presence of his three closest followers, Peter,
James and John. They were granted a glimpse of Christ in glory, and
they heard the voice of the Father urging them to listen to his
beloved Son. As we continue our Lenten journey, we renew our resolve
to listen attentively to the Son of God, and we draw comfort and
hope from the revelation of his glory. Upon all of you here today,
and upon your families and loved ones at home, I invoke God's
abundant blessings.
© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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