Province News

Remembering the Transfiguration
Thursday, July 10, 2003

Fr. Ken Overberg, SJ
Fr. Kenneth Overberg, SJ, a professor of theology at Xavier University, writes this column for Cincinnati's Catholic Telegraph. A collection of his essays, focusing on the consistent ethic of life, titled 'Creating a Culture of Life' has recently been published by Thomas More Publishing.

On August 6 the Church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration. The Scriptural foundation for the feast (Mark 9:2-10) continues to puzzle Scripture scholars. Some think that the Transfiguration is a Resurrection story that was put back into the earthly life of Jesus. Others judge it to be an apocalyptic vision, helping us to appreciate the relationship between Jesus and the advent of God’s kingdom. Coming just after the prediction of the passion, the Transfiguration is a vision of hope, tempered by sober realism.

As Mark told the story of the Transfiguration to his community, he was encouraging them not to get trapped in a false and naive optimism--like Peter wanting to set up three tents to try to make the moment of enlightenment go on and on. No, Mark says, don’t forget that suffering and death are also part of Jesus’ story.

For Jesus, for Mark’s community, and for us, there is a cost to discipleship. But there is also a greater context of love, resurrection and the flourishing of life--and so of hope. Most of us will not face crucifixion, but we do face everyday challenges to living the Gospel: fidelity and honesty in our relationships; raising children to love their neighbors and their enemies; sifting political rhetoric and weighing it against Gospel values; creating just economic structures; confronting a culture of violence and death. As we accept this cost, our celebration of the Transfiguration renews and deepens our hope.

August 6 is also the anniversary of a different and horrible transfiguration, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States in 1945. Three days later Nagasaki was bombed. More than 200,000 people were killed in the bombings, with more than 130,000 dying later of radiation poisoning.

This tragic anniversary directs our attention, as involved citizens and faithful disciples of Jesus, to present nuclear concerns. Congress has recently approved some of the Bush Administration’s requests to develop new nuclear weapons. Restrictions on the development of new, low-yield weapons have been lifted. Funds for research on “bunker busters” [known as the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP)] were also authorized. The RNEP would have a yield around 70 times the size of the Hiroshima bomb.

These and other nuclear issues are, of course, extremely complex. We may feel overwhelmed, tempted simply to let others decide or to follow some political platform. Such a choice would reject the cost of discipleship, our responsibility to act as informed and committed followers of Jesus. Where to begin? We can reread the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter, The Challenge of Peace. We can consult the links listed on www.paxchristiusa.org, many of them Gospel-inspired. We can contact our Representatives and Senators.

Our remembering two different transfigurations invites us to appreciate more fully the destiny of discipleship, both cost and hope. There is still much more to do in God’s creating a reign of justice and peace. How will you help?