ANGELUS TODAY
'Jesus is the light
that never fades'
Adapted from
March 4, 2012
On this second Sunday of Lent, Pope Benedict began his day with a visit to the Roman parish of John the Baptist de la Salle, south of the capital. Afterwards, he led the noontime Sunday Angelus at St. Peter's Square.
The Holy Father reflected on the Transfiguration which is recounted in today's Gospel, saying that the event featured two essential elements: the divine light that transfigured the face of Jesus, and the voice of the Heavenly Father who spoke to him.
He said that the Transfiguration was an orientation towards the fulfillment of Jesus's mission, signifying his awareness that before attaining to the resurrection, he would undergo suffering and death on the cross.
Commenting on the fact that Jesus took Peter, James and John with him to Mount Tabor, the Pope said Jesus did this because he wanted to give his closest friends an experience of the light dwelling in Him, so that after this event, he would be their inner light, able to protect them from the assaults of darkness, and a light that would never go out.
Here is a translation of the Holy Father's remarks at the Angelus today:
Dear brothers and sisters:
This Sunday, the second in Lent, is also characterized as the Sunday of the Lord's Transfiguration. In fact, in the Lenten itinerary, the liturgy - after having invited us to follow Jesus in the desert in order to face and conquer temptations as he did - now proposes that we climb with him to the mountain of prayer in order to contemplate on his human face the glorious light of God.
The episode of the Transfiguration of Christ is attested to in common by the evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke. It has two essential elements.
First of all, Jesus goes up a high mountain with the disciples Peter, James and John, and there, "he was transfigured before them" (Mk 9,2) - his face and his garments radiated a dazzling light, while beside him,there appeared Moses and Elijah.
Then, a cloud came over the mountaintop, and a voice came from the cloud that said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mk 9,7).
Thus, the light and the voice - the divine light that shone on Jesus's face, and the voice of the heavenly Father who testified for him and asked that he be heeded.
The mystery of the Transfiguration cannot be detached from the context of the journey that Jesus was taking. He was at the time headed resolutely towards the fulfillment of his mission, knowing very well that, in order to reach the Resurrection, he must pass through suffering and death on the Cross.
He had spoken openly to his disciples about this, but they did not understand. Rather, they rejected such a prospect because they were not reasoning according to God but as men (cfr Mt 16,23).
That is why Jesus took three of them with him to the mountain and revealed his divine glory, the splendor of Truth and Love. Jesus wanted this light to illuminate their hearts when they would have to go through the pitch darkness of his passion and death, when the scandal of the Cross would become insupportable for them.
God is light, and Jesus wishes to give his most intimate friends the experience of this light. which dwells in him. Thus, after this event, he would the interior light within them, able to protect them from the assaults of darkness.
Even in the darkest night, Jesus is the lamp that never goes out. St. Augustine summarized this mystery with a beautiful statement: "That which to the eyes of the body is the sun that we see, Christ is for the eyes of the heart" (Sermo 78, 2: PL 38, 490).
Dear brothers and sisters, we all need this interior light to overcome the trials of life. This light comes from God, and it is Christ who gives it to us. He, in whom the fullness of divinity dwells (cfr Col 2.9).
Let us go up the mountain of prayer with Jesus, and, contemplating his face full of love and truth, let us allow ourselves to be filled interiorly with his light.
Let us ask the Virgin Mary, our guide in our journey of faith, to help us live this experience during this season of Lent, finding in each day a moment of silent prayer and of listening to the Word of God.
After the prayers, he said this to English-speaking pilgrims:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at this Angelus prayer, especially students from the United States of America.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is transfigured, and shows his disciples that his Passion will lead to the Resurrection. By God’s grace, may our Lenten observance lead to a renewal of his radiance within us. Upon you and your loved ones, I invoke God’s abundant blessings!
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 05/03/2012 12:22]