Second Sunday in Lent – February 24th 2013

Dear Readers,

My name is Fr. Franz Devantier of Saint Titus, Independent Old Catholic Church (IOCC) of Africa, operating in South Africa, and also creator of this blog.  My background was that of a liberal Catholic Priest, and a Traditional Catholic Priest in South Africa, and then an independent Priest in the Catholic tradition.  I was incardinated into the IOCC by Archbishop-Primate Emeritus Maurice McCormick founder of the IOCC of America.  

IOCC of America

Primate Archbishop George Le Mesurier,  IOCC of America
Primate Emeritus Archbishop Maurice McCormick, IOCC of America
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IOCC of Africa

Bishop George Otieno Odhiambo, IOCC of Africa

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Saint Titus IOCC South Africa

Saint Titus IOCC Newsletter

Father. Franz Devantier, IOCC South Africa

In nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti.  Amen   (In the name of the father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen. )

  

Second Sunday in Lent – February 24^th 2013 (Colour of Celebration - Violet)

Traditional Catholics:

“Let the sight of the grandeur of Jesus transfigured prepare us for a brief contemplation of the Humiliation of His Passion.”

Liberal Catholics:

Intent for this Sunday is “Control of Speach”.

Roman Catholics: (7^th Sunday of the year)

“Lord, your mercy is my hope, my heart rejoices in your saving power.  I will sing to the Lord for his goodness to me.”

Commemoration of the Saints

Feb 24^th or 25^th: St. Matthias, (Apostle):  Matthias, one of the seventy-two disciples of Jesus, was chosen as Apostle in the place of Judas.  St. Matthias preached the Gospel for more than thirty years in Judea, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.  He was stoned in A.D 80.

Feb 27^th or 28^th: St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. (Confessor)

Announcements:

·         We are in the process of setting up the constitution for Saint Titus.

·         We have started looking for people who would like to practice as marriage officers under the banner of Saint Titus.  There are already nine people who have expressed an interest in becoming marriage officers.  If you would like more details about this, then please contact Fr. Franz on devantierf@gmail.com

Homily:

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, up a high mountain by themselves, and he was transfigured before their eyes.  This second Sunday of Lent is concerned with the mystery of the transfiguration of Jesus, the profound mystery of light.  A very comforting mystery, for Peter, James, and John, and for us too.

Only three disciples with special properties were invited to accompany Jesus on this journey.  Peter was invited because of his deep love for the Master Jesus, John because of his pure heart, and James because of his zeal in defending the faith.  We may feel these very properties within ourselves as we contemplate the mysteries of our Master Jesus the Christ.  These three disciples were about to experience a contemplative meditation, that was elevated above the normal plains of earthly existence.  As they focused on the Christ, his face became a point of light, bright as the sun, his clothes were as made of light.

In that moment the Christ was transfigured into his true being, a being that was the Word, a true reflection of the soul and of the nature of Christ.  For a moment the veil had parted and the true glory of the son of God was manifest as a being of God, as the second aspect of the trinity of God, a clue for deeper understanding of the things that were soon about to happen to the Christ.

What the three disciples saw and explained later of the experience can only and will always remain inadequate words to describe a true glimpse into the glory of truth.  Even the splendour of what they saw was only a mere reflection of the true glory, a mere preview of what awaits us on the other side.

Traditionally people have tried to compare the true glory of God as revealed to them with the light of the sun.  Possibly some brothers and sisters in the past were mistaken for sun-worshippers, because of the difficulties involved in trying to explain such an insight, such an image of God.

Then amazingly the three disciples became aware that there were other spiritual icons/beings with the Christ, in this display of the glory of God.  Moses and Elijah appeared.  These two powerful characters from the Old Testament are depicted as displaying devout homage to Jesus the Christ.  Like a blueprint or an example for true worship of the Christ.

As if nothing could top this experience, a bright cloud appeared and draw closer to the scene.  A voice from the cloud announced “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him”.  The disciples were able to recognize that Jesus the Christ is the Awaited One that God had announced through the prophet Isaiah.  Jesus is recognized as the teacher that we all need to follow.

It is not surprising to see that the experience for these three disciples was almost too much for them, even although they had been carefully chosen to start with.  The disciples wanted this glimpse into the glory of heaven to continue for as long as possible.  After a while the disciples became aware of the presence of the Divine Majesty, God the father, in the cloud.  They became afraid, because it was not easy to explain these things, or to understand what was happening.

Eventually the experience of the Transfiguration was over, and the three disciples were able to meditate on it, and explain the significance to themselves and the other disciples.  These lessons learnt at the transfiguration were invaluable in dealing with the Passion and the resurrection that followed not too long afterwards.  The Christ had given them the tools that they so desperately needed, shortly after this event.

The transfiguration helps us to understand on a deeper level, how Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, gave his life for us, and for our salvation.  The transfiguration helps us to put the Resurrection into perspective.  We are able to recognize how Jesus rose up into heaven to be at the right hand of God the Father.  We are able to recognise that we are really the children of God, and that by implication the brothers and sisters of Jesus the Christ, the Sons and Daughters of God the father, and God the female/mother/comforting aspect represented by the Holy Spirit.

It was our brother that died on that cross, it was our brother who ascended into heaven.  Like our own brother, we too have been given the possibility of ascending into heaven.

Love,

Rev. Fr. Franz Devantier of Saint Titus, IOCC, South Africa,

devantierf@gmail.com

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