THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

Second Sunday of Lent

25 February 20244

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends,

In today's Gospel reading (Saint Matthew 17:1-9), Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain and manifests His glory to them. We see the Hypostatic Union of God and Man in Jesus Christ clearly manifested for these chosen Apostles.

Saint Peter's first reaction upon seeing Jesus, Moses, and Elias together was to offer to build earthly shelters for them. This is a glorious occasion, and Saint Peter is eager to hold onto it and stay there as long as possible. This foretaste of Heaven leaves us with the desire to never return to where we were.

In Heaven, there will be no need for tents or earthly shelters. Our shelters here on earth are only temporary, no matter how solidly we may build them. Saint Peter's task was to build up the Church here on earth, so logically, he desires to build materially.

God interrupted Saint Peter with a Cloud (the Holy Ghost) and a Voice (God the Father) and vividly impressed upon these Apostles that Jesus is both God and Man. Doctrinally, we know that Jesus is the Son of God, begotten of the Father from all eternity. In His Divinity, He is begotten of the Father without the aid of a mother from all eternity. In His Humanity, He is born of the Blessed Virgin Mary in time and without the aid of a father. This beautiful mystery is enough to fill our hearts and minds with wonder and joy for all of eternity.

The Incarnation of the Son of God brings God to us. Because we have strayed so far from the Way of Life, we could never find our way back unless Jesus came to show us the way. Jesus demonstrates to these three Apostles the truth of His Divinity. They already saw the truth of His humanity.

The heresies attacking the Person of Jesus have always been with us, and it is good for us to demonstrate the correct belief from time to time.

Saint Ephraem says: "The events of His life, and His own divine powers, teach those who can learn that He is true God, and His sufferings openly proclaim Him true Man. And if this does not convince those who are weak and foolish of mind, they shall suffer punishment on the day of His dread judgment. For if He were not flesh, for what reason did Mary bring Him forth? And if He was not God, Who then did Gabriel call Lord?

If He was not flesh, Who then lay in the manger? If He was not God, to Whom did the angels coming on earth give glory?

If He was not man, Who was wrapped in swaddling clothes? If He was not God, Whom then did the Shepherds adore?

If He was not man, Whom did Joseph circumcise? And if He was not God, in Whose honor did a new star appear in the heavens?

If He was not man, Whom did Mary nourish at the breast? And if He were not God, to Whom did the Magi offer gifts?

If He was not man, Whom did Simeon take in His arms? And if He was not God, to Whom did Simeon say: Dismiss me in peace?" Et Cetera.

Saint Ephrem continues in this vein, examining the life of Jesus here on earth, from beginning to end, showing that He is both God and Man. Only the willfully blind will fail to see what God has manifested to us of the hypostatic union in Jesus Christ.

Our temptation is usually to err in one extreme or the other. We want to see Jesus in His Divinity, and then we end up denying His Humanity. It is very difficult to grasp God's suffering and sacrifice. Or do we want to see Jesus in His Humanity and end up denying His Divinity? If He was God, He would not have allowed Himself to suffer and would not have tolerated the unjust abuses of men. We must strive to steer clear of both extremes. Virtue is in the middle.

Saint Peter saw Jesus in His Humanity and clearly understood the dangers looming in the world against Jesus. On the other hand, Saint Peter also understood that Jesus was the Son of God and believed that no harm could ever come upon Him. It seems that this conflict led Saint Peter to desire to stay away from Jerusalem and remain in the splendor and glory of the vision on the mountain. "Let us build three tents…"

Let us not get caught up with material things so that we forget our souls. What will it benefit us if we gain the temporal things of the whole world but suffer the eternal loss of our souls?

We, too, in our own lives, must come to terms with the hypostatic union, accepting that the Son of God became Man and suffered and died for our sins. He is the only Innocent Man, but He willed to take the punishment for all the rest of us upon Himself. He is God's only Son, giving eternal merit to every one of His actions. We were truly redeemed with a Great Price. Though it is beyond our understanding, it behooves us to try to truly appreciate Who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!