Saturday of Week 6 in Ordinary Time

James 3:1-10; Psalm 11(12):2-5,7-8; Mark 9:2-13

This Saturday, and the 2nd Sunday of Lent, both feature the transfiguration in the Gosple. Today - from Mark, and the 2nd Sunday of Lent we hear from Luke (Luke 9:28-36). The two accounts are strikingly similar, with almost exactly the same words - so one suspects one was copied from another. The Transfiguration in Matthews' Gospel is also very much the same; John does not seem to include the transfiguration at all - but then, the whole of John's Gospel is more transcendental than the others - certainly less historical accurate, but with more layers of meaning. Instead, there is a meditative discourse in the second half of chapter 12, during which God's voice is heard, and Jesus explains this is for us to hear.

The first three, Matthew, Mark nd Luke are known as the Synoptic Gosples, as they do contain very much the same material - there are some omissions here, and some additions there. Considerable attention has been paid to the order in which they were composed - using internal cross references, references to other historical events which can be dated, etc. Matthew (45) uses and expands on Mark(39 - 42), so is generally reckoned to have been written after, while Luke is later again (60). Perhaps of more importance is that they were writing for different audiences.

Until 1967 the Gospel rad most frequently in Mass was Matthew - perhaps because St Augustine placed Mathew as an earlier text, and therefore of more significance than the others. Vatican II has given us a much richer experience in our liturgies as we now have the three year cycle, and most of all four Gospels are heard over that time.

We are so blessed to have all four, and to have a richness of translations and commentaries to accompany them.

James 3:1-10; Psalm 11(12):2-5,7-8; Mark 9:2-13

This Saturday, and the 2nd Sunday of Lent, both feature the transfiguration in the Gosple. Today - from Mark, and the 2nd Sunday of Lent we hear from Luke (Luke 9:28-36). The two accounts are strikingly similar, with almost exactly the same words - so one suspects one was copied from another. The Transfiguration in Matthews' Gospel is also very much the same; John does not include the transfiguration at all - but then, the whole of John's Gospel is more transcendental than the others - certainly less historical accurate, but with more layers of meaning.

The first three, Matthew, Mark nd Luke are known as the Synoptic Gosples, as they do contain very much the same material - there are some omissions here, and some additions there. Considerable attention has been paid to the order in which they were composed - using internal cross references, references to other historical events which can be dated, etc. Matthew uses and expands on Mark, so is generally reckoned to have been written after, while Luke is later again. Perhaps of more importance is that they were writing for different audiences. Until 1967 the Gospel rad most frequently in Mass was Matthew - perhaps because St Augustine placed Mathew as an earlier text, and therefore of more significance than the others. Vatican II has given us a much richer experience in our liturgies as we now have the three year cycle, and most of all four Gospels are heard over that time.

We are so blessed to have all four, and to have a richness of translations and commentaries to accompany them.

Luke 9:28-36

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ – He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

Mark 9:2-13

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
  As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean. And they put this question to him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True,’ he said ‘Elijah is to come first and to see that everything is as it should be; yet how is it that the scriptures say about the Son of Man that he is to suffer grievously and be treated with contempt? However, I tell you that Elijah has come and they have treated him as they pleased, just as the scriptures say about him.’
Posted in Daily Reflection.