August in Ordinary Time brings four clear points in the formation of a disciple…so we listen up…! First, during this month, our Mother-Church puts puts before us a man and a woman who show us where it is all heading: Transfiguration of our humble humanness in Jesus, and its glorification when we set eyes on God. We will shine as does the assumed Mother of God.
This is what the Word tells us. It is no abstract pie-in-the-sky. It is God’s promise and our hope. With this before us, the other three Sundays of the month have clear pointers to keep us maturing in our baptismal discipleship identity. The second Sunday instructs us where to keep our eyes. If we take our eyes off the Word, we sink into the troubles of our time. Next, we are reminded that our mission, like that of Jesus, is two-fold: to proclaim the Word, and to heal…always and everywhere, and to anyone and everyone. Finally, we are faced with our constant tendency to sin and be selfish in Peter. We are reminded that despite this denial, neither Peter’s brokenness nor ours will destroy the Church. The texts might be familiar…but we are coming to know ourselves anew. We are not the same. We are slowly being transfigured….
You shine on Tabor
and I am almost blinded.
Me? Me, too?
Is this what you are doing
in the Eucharistic kiss?
Help me to keep my eyes on You…
when I need to walk on water.
Help me to proclaim and heal…
until I have no voice left.
And when I find in me
the denial of Peter,
help me to remember
that no one, nothing,
will destroy the Church that is You…
the Church that is us…
although all hell tries.
Amen.
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