12 Rosary Rant – Mysteries of Light (for priests and bishops) – 4 – The Transfiguration

My dear brother priests and bishops, are not the Mysteries of Light especially appropriate for use by ourselves? Blessed John Paul II, while thinking about his own priesthood over the years, put these together, it seems to me, specifically with us, his fellow priests and bishops, in mind. Please God, more Scriptural and Patristic sources will be added to the present “rant style” meditations when circumstances at Holy Souls Hermitage aren’t quite so utterly barbaric.

The purpose of this first run through these mysteries is to note especially the goodness and kindness of Jesus amidst the violence and chaos back in the day… and today. Hang on, it might be a bit of a rough ride, as rough and tumble as we focus on, in this post, the transfiguration. Let’s take the old NAB Luke 9,27-36:

Luke 9,27 Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” 28 About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29 While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. 34 While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Here’s the first paragraph of The Dog Woman, which I’m still in the process of writing…

We’re already dead, and not by way of any glorious martyrdom, if we go about our ministry by the usual method of “consensus building” as regulated by the status quo of the lowest common denominator established by way of tyrranical imposition of relativism. Our synod type of collegiality won’t get us anywhere in the Lord’s eyes either, unless that collegiality is united with the Supreme Shepherd on earth, the Bishop of Rome, and then, of course, necessarily with that, with the Supreme Shepherd of all, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Any pastoral plans imposed by ourselves aside from our Lord and His Church will bring ourselves and all to ruin.

We must listen to the “hard sayings”, to the decree of our Lord that we must all be on our way to Calvary for our own exodus united with His. And with that, all of a sudden, we will get a glimpse of the glory of the Lord, and we will hear our Heavenly Father commanding us, wonderfully, to listen to His most beloved Son. And we will hear our Heavenly Father speaking that Logos into us as well, making us to be members of the Body of Christ.

We say those words of His in the first person singular, do we not, acting in Persona Christi — This is my Body, my Blood, given, shed, in sacrifice — ? We do. We must be just as prompt in being on our way to Calvary.

Sure, it’s good to be with Moses and Elijah and Jesus, but it is better to be on our way to Calvary, for that is exactly where we will find them. If we stay on Tabor, we will be alone with ourselves. Everyone else is going to Calvary. What about us?

Lord, have mercy on our weakness. We are so very weak. Have us die to ourselves. Have us live for you alone, not for appearances in the sight of men, but for you alone. Have us bring many to heaven by the witness we provide in your grace. Lord, have mercy on us. Keep us close to yourself as your good friends. You yourself called us that. Lord, have mercy on us. Without you, we will fail. Satan is rampaging. Jesus, have mercy. Make us to ever be in enthusiastic, humble thanksgiving before you. Lord, show us your goodness and kindness. Mary, our Immaculate Mother,monstra te esse matrem! Show yourself to be a Mother!