HUMAN NATURE BECOMES "DAZZLING WHITE" AGAIN.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT. YEAR B.
March 8, 2009.
(Genesis: 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18)) (Psalm 116:10, 15-19)
(Second reading: Romans 8:31-34) (Gospel reading: Mark 9:2-10)


HUMAN NATURE BECOMES
"DAZZLING WHITE" AGAIN.

The Gospel provides a view at the goodness of human nature: The Transfiguration of Jesus! who restores its goodness making it "dazzling white" just as he himself became "dazzling white" (Mark 9:5).

How to restore the goodness of our human nature:
- We must see it as it is: "dazzling white", just as Jesus showed it to us at the time of his transfiguration.

- We must understand that "darkness" (injustice and war) is but passing condition afflicting human nature at specific historic moments.

- We must believe that human nature is united to God through Jesus Christ. God says of Jesus: "This is my beloved Son" (Mark 9:7). Through Jesus, human nature shares in God's goodness.

- We must listen to what Jesus says, for God Himself tells us: "Listen to him" (Mark 9:7), so that we may become like him.

The restoration of the goodness of our human nature is fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus when life triumphs over death, Justice over injustice, liberation over oppression.

That is the reason why Jesus, right after his transfiguration, charged Peter, James and John: "Not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead" (Mark 9:9). It was with Jesus' resurrection that the goodness of human nature is fully restored.

Human beings must be unwavering in their efforts to restore the goodness of human nature.
Saint Paul reassures us that "if God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his only Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him" (Romans 8:31-32); he will give us victory over death. Those who are with Jesus become themselves "dazzling white".

Let us turn our human nature "dazzling white" again.