In Christ is overwhelming conquest

It is like existence in a real battlefield. We are up against one another – within families, within society, within nation, even within churches. The United Nations Security Council is divided whether to go to war or not. Who eventually will turn out to be the aggressor, Bush or Saddam? Locally, what do we do about the troubles in Mindanao? Who is really causing trouble, the Muslims or the Christians? It is a fight between good and evil, integrity and corruption, freedom and slavery, war and peace.

Call this the dilemma of unresolved moral and spiritual problems, of opposites that have not found their proper harmony, of irrational power struggles and unequal distribution of material wealth in the economy. The whole world is tense as war clouds gather, the threat of a nuclear war darkening our horizons and despoiling the world of hope for a brighter future.

Today, we celebrate the mystery of light par excellence. Before the astonished apostles Peter, James and John, the glory of the Godhead shone forth from the transfigured face of Christ with a brilliance which could have blinded the ordinary eye (Mk 9:27ff and Gospel parallels). We have been moving on from Jesus’ infancy and the hidden life in Nazareth to the public life of Jesus. Our contemplation brings us to those mysteries which may be called in a special way "mysteries of light". Certainly the whole mystery of Christ is a mystery of light. He is the "light of the world" (Jn 8:12). And in this light alone is darkness dissipated. This truth emerges in a special way during the years of His public life when He proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom. All that we need to know about militancy in the service of Christ, about the spiritual arms we have to use to conquer the forces which threaten to destroy our very life, Jesus proclaims in the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Atop that beautiful mountain, Mt. Tabor, the human Christ was transfigured by the Holy Spirit. And the Father’s voice was heard commanding, :This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to Him" (Mk 9:7). We all are in the army of Christ fighting for and in Him, our Head. We are knighted wearing a helmet if we choose to listen and follow Him as the eternal Word (cf. Gospel teachings). Our breastplate is a meekness and humbleness of heart like to His. What incredible power is given to us in our powerlessness. Our whole armor is being obedient unto death like Him. We fight with a two-edged sword of prayer and sacrifice. Especially powerful weapon is the Holy Rosary with its Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious Mysteries of His life and the Mysteries of Light – Jesus’ Baptism, His proclamation of the Kingdom of Love and Mercy, His Transfiguration and the gift of Himself in the Holy Eucharist.

Former US President Jimmy Carter (Nobel Peace Prize winner), condemned the build-up of a war on Iraq saying that the coming conflict is an unjust war "almost unprecedented in the history of civilized nations" (from Carter’s article in New York Times). Let us intensify our prayers and sacrifices especially today, that the threat of war if Bush and Saddam fail to see eye to eye may be averted. We are at the frontlines of this battle, with our armor of prayer and our standards of truth and compassionate love. We see the light and hope that God will intervene and avert the catastrophic clash of earthly powers. In Christ alone shall we conquer.

Second Sunday of Lent, Mark 9:2-10.