March 16, 2003
Transfiguring Imagination
Heat
and Snow
The
heating and snow-removal bills continue to mount and quite a few people
suggested that we take up a special “winter-expense” collection.
So far the heating oil and snow-removal bills have totalled over $45,000!
Next Sunday we will take a second collection to help pay for this bill.
Could you bring a generous “extra donation” to bring next
week?
(If you use the envelope system and want this donation credited to your
annual donations, please put this special donation in an ordinary envelope
and print your name and envelope number on the front of the envelope.)
Peace
Online
If
you want to see some important links about the church’s position
on the war with Iraq,
click here
Away
at College?
We'd
love to stay in touch.
To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulletin with
you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click
Here!
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us
know by filling in our
online form
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March 2: Lent and Imagination
Feb 23: Sorrow
Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia Lessons
Feb2: Giving At A Difficult
Time
Jan 26: Penny Power
& Catholic Schools
Jan19: Yet Another
Year
Jan 12: Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
The apostles had been traveling with Jesus
for some quite time and his words and deeds continued to surprise and
inspire them. But now they were headed for Jerusalem and Jesus knew that
the chances that he would have to face his death was rather high during
this visit.
So he takes his three closest friends off
on a “retreat” and this Sunday’s gospel tells the rest
of the story. On the top of a high mountain, Jesus “is transfigured”.
His clothes appear dazzling white -- not unlike what we’ve seen these
past few months as sun glare on the snow dazzled our vision. He appears
with Moses (who represents the Law of God) and Elijah (who represents
the tradition of the prophets). In that moment, the apostles’ imagination
is transfigured. They see a possibility in Jesus that escaped them before
this moment. They see his glory and his fulfillment.
But all too soon this moment is over and
their imagination is stretched again. He now tells them of his death...and
then life beyond death. They can’t understand.
This Lent we are grappling with the theme
“Imagine our world rooted in Christ” because in order to have
hope in the midst of the warring world, in order to have hope in the midst
of recent deaths in our own community, in order to have hope in the midst
of church turmoil, in order to have hope in the midst of family struggles,
we must go on this transfigured journey with Christ. We must glimpse what
the apostles glimpse -- the hope of God’s light shining in the midst
of our darkness, the reality of what is evil and deadly in our midst,
and the promise of life after this death. After the experience of the
transfiguration, the apostles see things differently. Their imaginations
have been stretched and they are strengthened for their future role as
leaders of the community of Christ.
What do you hope for these days? How does
the presence of Christ in your life strengthen that hope? What difference
does living in hope make? How do you share that hope with others who are
despairing (or who are cranky) ?
You are Person
