REFLECTION AT TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH – MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2025
Readings
Isaiah 65:17-23; Psalm 30; John 4: 43-54
Reflection
[Site the experience of the elderly lady in Kabowa, Ndeeba – Kampala].
This morning, I have very good news for each one of you. Do you know what this good news is? This is it: God himself has just spoken to each one of you; he has spoken to you, not secretly, not behind doors, but directly and openly. Has it ever occurred to you, that each time the Word of God, or the Scriptures are read to you, it is God speaking, it is our Lord Jesus, speaking directly to you and me, here and now? Perhaps, we tend to think that, since the Scriptures were written over 2000 years ago, or even earlier than that, we might say, “Oh, Prophet Isaiah, was addressing himself to people of his time; Oh, John the Evangelist was speaking to the Jews, and therefore God is not speaking to us through these people.” This is where we go wrong? I want to assure you that when the Word of God was being read to you this morning, whether you were paying attention, or you were half asleep, God himself was speaking to you and me. This is real, believe it or not. This is real and for sure. Don’t think the reader who came out and took the first reading, was reading from a newspaper; do not think that when Deacon Greg was proclaiming the Gospel, he was reading from a novel. No, these two were God’s mouthpieces, God’s representatives, trying to reach out to you.
And, Prophet Isaiah 55, says: “For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [II Cor. 9:10.] So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11 AMPC; https://bible.com/bible/8/isa.55.10-11.AMPC). The Word of God is powerful, and it’s effective.
To this truth the Letter to the Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. NIV For the word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12. ESV). This too is for real.
And listen again to the Word we just listened to in the first reading: “Thus says the LORD: Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people. No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying..” (Isaiah 65:17-19). The Lord, even promises long life. And, who of us does not want to live long, or to have his/her life span extended? We all know that after death there is eternal life awaiting us. Then, why be in a hurry to go to a place, or call it state, where you and I are going to live for ever and ever? Why not believe in the Lord who promises long life here on earth?
Notice that the theme of healing is re-echoed in today’s Gospel. As we heard, Jesus heals the child of the royal official. By a mere word, Jesus says to the official, Go, and your child will live; and the child is healed. Who of us is not sick or ill in one way or the other? There is a joke that as we get older, we all become more and more Catholic! We go: “I have pain here (touching the head), I have aches here (touching the chest, I have pains in both shoulders (touching the right and left of the chest)! Who of you is increasingly becoming more and more Catholic?
Yet, as we very well know that doctors, physicians, therapists of all sorts, can only diagnose and try to treat. But it is God who actually heals. So, why not believe in the Lord’s healing power? God is personally reaching out to you this morning, and saying, “My child, you will get well again; my daughter, my son, you will live!”
Finally, those of you, who attended the 10 O’clock Mass yesterday, you will recall that Fr. Prosper reminded us that the Fourth Sunday, is called Laetare (which means, “Rejoice!”). For, our prayer, our fasting, and our good works, are not in vain. They are paying off, because the mysteries of the Passion, death and resurrection are getting closer and closer. So, the Lord who is coming to make of us a new creation, the Lord who is coming to transform us and make of us better people; the Lord who is coming to heal us, is coming. Let us, then, keep on rejoicing, and rejoicing. AMEN! [I would have told you a little story, but we are running out of time; it will be for later].
Fr. Bonaventure Turyomumazima
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