Trusting in God’s Word
March 12, 2017
By Chesca Cuisia
By Chesca Cuisia
“Trust, big word.”
This is a line from a female lead character of one of the more famous Filipino romance movies.
In the film, the male lead character finds himself in big trouble as his company was in peril of losing its status. As everything seemed to fall apart, he eventually found solace, together with the female lead, who is his ex-girlfriend, and eventually regained the success of his firm.
But let us remember, what is the essence of this season in the first place? Repentance? Prayer? Charity?
Every Second Sunday of Lent is celebrated as Transfiguration Sunday. In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us about how Jesus transformed himself in order to prepare himself for the upcoming sacrifice, his suffering and death at the cross. His transfiguration reflects one of the most magnificent displays of God’s glory, and this transfiguration provides us deeper understanding of who He really is -- His glory and His self-giving love.
Jesus brought His three disciples, Peter, James and John, to the mountain to strengthen them as well in preparation for their mission, in carrying their own cross. He assures them that there is a place for them in His kingdom and they must remain faithful to their mission to spread the Word of God.
Isn’t our life the same as with Jesus Christ? Because Christ manifested himself as Man and God at the same time, He is like all of us except that he has not committed any sin. Like what happened to the male character, life is full of hardships and difficulties, life may be more than we think we can handle, but may we never forget about the glory of God, and may we never be daunted by these hindrances and may we always remember, with faith, that he will never abandon His beloved people.
This Sunday, we are called to be one with Christ in sacrifice. Jesus suffered and died at the cross for us to be saved so it is just for us to one with Christ in the suffering as well. He does not oblige us to die at the cross like what he did. He just asks us to do penance for our sins by doing little sacrifices every day. By following his teachings, sacrificing little of our time to help others, praying to Him, and giving up little pleasures in our life, we become one with Christ’s suffering.
Trust is indeed a ‘big’ word’. We cannot fully sacrifice ourselves without trusting God and in today’s Gospel, He asks us to trust Him with what we have in our plates, be it work, school, or plain old problems. The Lord calls for us to trust in Him as He makes His plan for us.
The transfiguration of Jesus shows that heavenly glory awaits those who remain faithful to Him. Sadly, many remain ignorant of this fact and continue to dwell on earthly loins. But those who are aware of his mission, as Jesus said to His disciples, must never lose faith.
Let us ask ourselves, do we trust Him enough? Are we up for the challenge? Are we ready that someday, over all the difficulties, we, too, may be transfigured?
This is a line from a female lead character of one of the more famous Filipino romance movies.
In the film, the male lead character finds himself in big trouble as his company was in peril of losing its status. As everything seemed to fall apart, he eventually found solace, together with the female lead, who is his ex-girlfriend, and eventually regained the success of his firm.
But let us remember, what is the essence of this season in the first place? Repentance? Prayer? Charity?
Every Second Sunday of Lent is celebrated as Transfiguration Sunday. In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us about how Jesus transformed himself in order to prepare himself for the upcoming sacrifice, his suffering and death at the cross. His transfiguration reflects one of the most magnificent displays of God’s glory, and this transfiguration provides us deeper understanding of who He really is -- His glory and His self-giving love.
Jesus brought His three disciples, Peter, James and John, to the mountain to strengthen them as well in preparation for their mission, in carrying their own cross. He assures them that there is a place for them in His kingdom and they must remain faithful to their mission to spread the Word of God.
Isn’t our life the same as with Jesus Christ? Because Christ manifested himself as Man and God at the same time, He is like all of us except that he has not committed any sin. Like what happened to the male character, life is full of hardships and difficulties, life may be more than we think we can handle, but may we never forget about the glory of God, and may we never be daunted by these hindrances and may we always remember, with faith, that he will never abandon His beloved people.
This Sunday, we are called to be one with Christ in sacrifice. Jesus suffered and died at the cross for us to be saved so it is just for us to one with Christ in the suffering as well. He does not oblige us to die at the cross like what he did. He just asks us to do penance for our sins by doing little sacrifices every day. By following his teachings, sacrificing little of our time to help others, praying to Him, and giving up little pleasures in our life, we become one with Christ’s suffering.
Trust is indeed a ‘big’ word’. We cannot fully sacrifice ourselves without trusting God and in today’s Gospel, He asks us to trust Him with what we have in our plates, be it work, school, or plain old problems. The Lord calls for us to trust in Him as He makes His plan for us.
The transfiguration of Jesus shows that heavenly glory awaits those who remain faithful to Him. Sadly, many remain ignorant of this fact and continue to dwell on earthly loins. But those who are aware of his mission, as Jesus said to His disciples, must never lose faith.
Let us ask ourselves, do we trust Him enough? Are we up for the challenge? Are we ready that someday, over all the difficulties, we, too, may be transfigured?