Veritas PH

The WORD. The TRUTH.

 316 total views

Transfiguration (A)

Just like the account of the temptation of Jesus, his transfiguration is also narrated by all the synoptic gospels (Mk 9:2-10; Mt 17:1-9; Lk 16:28-36). Following the position of many biblical scholars who acknowledge the priority of Mark, both Matthew and Luke draw from Mark many features of their story. But each has its own theological perspective, (cf s1S#20 Son of Man, 2/28/21; s1S#76, Exodus, 3/13/22).

With Matthew’s fulfillment motif throughout his gospel, Jesus is recognized by the Father, as his Son (Ps 2:7), as the favored servant of the Lord (Is 42:1), and as an end-time prophet like Moses (Dt18:15), all three proclaimed in the heavenly voice’s statement (v5). These point to Christ as the unique fulfillment of these major biblical terms. As Son, he is described as “agapētos” ( ἀγαπητός – an adjectival form of the verb to love found around 60 times in NT), meaning “(dearly) beloved”, “well-loved”. It is a specification about sonship that is not present in Ps 2:7 and is expressive of a special love-relationship between the heavenly Father and the Son. It links with the voice of Jesus’ baptism (3:17) and confirms Peter’s earlier confession (16:16). As servant of the Lord, it alludes to Isa 42:1, the beginning of the first Servant Song, casting Jesus in the role of the Servant of Yahweh and highlighting his obedience to the will of the Father through suffering by which He was well pleased. The fulfillment motif of Matthew is further underlined by the presence of Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets as they converge on the person of Jesus, both important end figures (v3), while the final remark of Jesus (v9) previews the resurrected Christ, the glory that will be his after his servant role as the Son of Man is brought to completion.

Jesus as the Son of God, the Servant of the Lord, and the Son of Man is the beloved emissary of God’s redemption. His mission accomplished, it made us beloved in Christ who brought us all from death to life. May our celebration of this mystery of salvation make us truly God’s children by sharing in the sufferings of Jesus so that we may share as well in his glory one day. Amen.

Son of Man

Transfiguration (B)

In the Gospels, people address Jesus by many titles: “Teacher”, “Rabbi,” “Lord,” “Messiah” and on a few rare occasions, “Son of God.” But it is interesting to note that the title Jesus most often used to refer to himself was the “the Son of Man”, ho huios tou anthrōpou, (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου). The 78 instances can be classified into the following categories: first, refers to his present activity during his earthly ministry, (e.g Mk 2:10,28; Mt 8:20; Lk 5:24); second, sayings in which Jesus refers to his impending passion and/or resurrection (e.g. Mk 8:31; 9:9,31; 10:33 John 3:14; 8:28; 12:34); third, sayings in which he refers to his future activity as judge and savior at the end, (Mk 8:38; 13:26; 14:62, John 1:51).

In line with the second group of sayings, for Mark Jesus as the Son of Man, is his self-effacing way of referring to himself to account for both the present and future suffering references to correct the Jewish expectations of a messiah king who will triumph magnificently against foreign powers. Jesus is indeed the Messiah, but a suffering one whose gruesome death will atone for the sins of all humanity: “He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity…” (cf. Is 53).

Exodus

Transfiguration (C)

Luke alone mentions the subject of the conversation between Jesus and Moses and Elijah: “…and spoke of his exodus” (9:31). The word ἔξοδος is immediately identified with the second book of the Bible and in particular the events of Ex 12:29-15:21. The word literally means departure (as translated in NRSV 1993) or passage (cf. CCD Lectionary 1970). In the context of the geographical perspective of Lucan theology, this refers to Jesus’ steady movement toward Jerusalem where the completion or fulfillment (9:32) of the events foreordained in God’s salvific plan happened. Though it alludes as well to the Hebrew exodus from Egypt, this theme is central to Luke’s gospel which is largely constructed around Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (9:51; 19:28) where his definite leave-taking, or departure, or his entire transit to the Father, will occur (the ascension, Lk 24:50-52). It is indeed the city of destiny for Jesus.

In Luke’s writings salvation history moves forward. He moves us with Jesus toward Jerusalem. And this our call as well. It reminds us not to become so involved in temporal concerns, even legitimate ones, that we forget our ultimate destiny, our own transfiguration into the image of Christ. Since we are citizens of another realm (Phil 3:20-21), our Christian identity must condition our way of life. To be able to do so, we need to continue to listen to the Father’s “chosen Son”, that we may find the way to his glory

ads
2
3
4
previous arrow
next arrow

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Bagong mapa ng bansa

 45,466 total views

 45,466 total views Mga Kapanalig, may bagong opisyal na mapa ang Pilipinas. Dahil iyan sa pinirmahang batas ni Pangulong BBM na pinamagatang Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Ang mapang pinagtitibay ng batas na ito ay nakabatay sa mga pamantayan o standards na itinakda ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (o UNCLOS). Ang UNCLOS

Read More »

Damay tayo sa eleksyon sa Amerika

 60,122 total views

 60,122 total views Mga Kapanalig, makasaysayan ang muling pagkakaluklok ni President-elect Donald Trump bilang pangulo ng Estados Unidos. Makasaysayan ito dahil maliban sa muli siyang inihalal, siya ang unang pangulo ng Amerika na may mahigit tatlumpung kaso; nahatulan siya sa isa sa mga ito. Siya rin ang presidenteng humarap sa dalawang impeachment cases noong una niyang

Read More »

Resilience at matibay na pananampalataya sa Panginoon

 70,237 total views

 70,237 total views Kapanalig, taglay at nanalaytay sa mga ugat nating Pilipino ang katangian ng pagiging resilience at may matatag na pananampalataya sa Panginoon. Ito ang nagbibigay ng pag-asa, bumubuhay sa ating mga Pilipino na tumayo at bumangon kahit dapang-dapa na, kahit lugmok na lugmok na. Nilugmok tayo ng husto ng bagyong Yolanda, 7.2 magnitude na

Read More »

Phishing, Smishing, Vishing

 79,814 total views

 79,814 total views Kapanalig, ikaw ba ay naghahanap ng “love online”? mag-ingat po sa paghahanap ng “wrong love” sa mga cybercriminal. Lumabas sa pag-aaral ng global information and insight company na TRANSUNION na ang Pilipinas po ang top targets ng online love scams. Ang PHISHING ay uri ng scam sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng emails at

Read More »

Veritas Editorial Writer Writes 30

 99,803 total views

 99,803 total views Kapanalig, sumakabilang buhay na ang isa sa “longtime”(matagal) na Radio Veritas editorial writer na si Lourdes “Didith” Mendoza Rivera noong ika-9 ng Nobyembre 2024. Tuluyang iginupo si “Didith” ng sakit na breast sa edad na 48-taong gulang. Naulila ni Mam Didith ang asawang si Florencio Rivera Jr., at dalawang anak na babae. Nagtapos

Read More »
catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

The Great Commandment

 1,108 total views

 1,108 total views Deut 6:2-6 The passage serves as a closing exhortation from Moses. It highlights two forms of positive law: “statutes” (huqim) which establish penalties, and “commandments” (mitsot) which simply state commands (v2f). Law observance reflects the covenant between Yahweh and the Israelites, with blessings like long life and prosperity assured in return. The Shema

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Preferential Attention

 1,451 total views

 1,451 total views 30th Sunday B Jer 31:7-9 In one of Jeremiah’s most celebrated chapters, the prophet speaks about the return of the exiles from the northern kingdom, who had been deported by the Assyrians after their victory in 721 B.C. Those who lived through the devastation are now making their return. They are referred to

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Servanthood

 1,449 total views

 1,449 total views 29th Sunday (B) Is 53:10-11 This passage comes near the end of the fourth and last song of the servant of the Lord in Deutero-Isaiah. The servant’s sufferings, which have become more intense, eventually lead to his death (53:3, 5, 😎. But the chorus of onlookers realizes that he was innocent, and his

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Perfect Discipleship

 2,106 total views

 2,106 total views Wis 7:7-11 Today’s reading recalls that event in Solomon’s life (v7) when he asked early in his reign as king for the gift of wisdom so that he might be an understanding and discerning judge for his people (1 Kgs 3:5-15). It was a gift to be preferred over all others and is

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Indissoluble Union

 2,415 total views

 2,415 total views 27th Sunday (B) Gen 2:18-24 The passage describes Yahweh’s plan to create a partner for man (Adam). He created animals, which Adam named to show their subordination to him. However, none of them was a suitable partner. So, God put Adam into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and created a

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Shared Responsibility

 2,785 total views

 2,785 total views 26th Sunday B Num 11:25-29 The reading contains an incident from the time of the Israelites’ desert sojourn. The story of Eldad and Medad is concerned with the sharing of Moses’ charismatic spirit among the people at the time. Earlier in the chapter, Moses had complained to Yahweh about his inability to provide

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

The Suffering Servant

 3,430 total views

 3,430 total views 24th Sunday B Is 50:4 – 9 This is the third of the four so-called Servant Songs in Deutero-Isaiah (42:1-7; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). The servant’s identity, as originally intended, has both collective (Israel) and individual features. He is perhaps best described as a prophetic figure who suffers on behalf of others; he is

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Wholeness

 3,711 total views

 3,711 total views Isaiah 35:4-7 This reading follows the announcement of judgment on the nations (ch 34) and a song celebrating the joy of the redeemed people of Israel by Yahweh (ch 35). The deliverance of Yahweh vanquishes evil. In Hebrew thought, evil is disguised in various forms: physical illness, handicaps, burned and scorched land without

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

God’s Law Above All

 4,058 total views

 4,058 total views 22nd Sunday B Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 “Hear, O Israel” (Shema’) is a solemn call to be attentive to God’s word. It serves as an introduction to the subsequent body of laws in the book. Faithful observance of the law leads to life, and life is represented by possession of the promised land (v1).

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Stay or Leave?

 4,411 total views

 4,411 total views 21st Sunday B Jos 24:1-2, 15-17, 18 This passage is from the conclusion of the book of Joshua (c. 24). After settling in the land of promise, Joshua gathers the Israelites at Shechem. The people are given the choice to renew the commitment made at Sinai (Ex 19-24), with Joshua clearly stating his

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Body of Christ

 5,253 total views

 5,253 total views 20th Sunday (B) Proverbs 9:1-6 In this chapter of Proverbs, two women are central figures: Wisdom and Folly. Lady Wisdom leads her followers to a fulfilling life, while Folly leads to death. Today’s reading focuses on Lady Wisdom. True wisdom, which encompasses the entire book, is understanding God’s law. Following God’s law leads

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

The Bread of Eternal Life

 5,234 total views

 5,234 total views 1 Kg 19:4-8 This story about Elijah takes place after Elijah’s life has been threatened by Jezebel (v2). The prophet flees for his life to Beer-sheba, south of Judah, and then on to the desert (vv3f). His state of depression leads to a death wish (v4). This is indicative of his lack of

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Bread from Heaven

 5,960 total views

 5,960 total views 18th Sunday (B) Ex 16:2-4, 12-15 The people started grumbling by contrasting the life they had under Pharaoh against the life in the desert with Yahweh (v3), to which Yahweh readily responded to their complaint. He promised to “rain down bread from heaven”, a divine gift, poetically described as a rainfall of bread

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Bread of Life

 6,154 total views

 6,154 total views 17th Sunday (B) 2 Kgs 4:42-44 This episode comes from tradition about Elisha (2 Kgs 2-13). Like Elijah, he is also called the “man of God” (v42), through whom the power of God to give life is communicated (cf 4:8-37, where a couple was gifted with a son and even restored his life

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Msgr. Wilfredo Andrey

Shepherd

 6,338 total views

 6,338 total views 16th Sunday B Jeremiah 23:1-6 Prophet Jeremiah attributes the troubles faced by Israel (defeat and deportation) to a lack of leadership, corruption, and neglect by their kings (Ch 22). The kings, acting as shepherds in the name of God, have failed in tending to the flock. In biblical thought, the king was considered

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top