Fr. Robert J Carr is the editor of this blog

Many may not remember the name Tom Kennedy. Those who do, may remember the game show he hosted: You Don’t Say! You may remember the slogan: “Remember it is not what you say, but what you don’t say that counts.” Well, when we look at the transfiguration, let us not only look at what we see, but what we don’t see.

A little history: This incident happens on the week before Jesus enters into Jerusalem where He will be crucified. So for these three Apostles and, of course, Jesus it will be an intense time. Jesus is transfigured and Elijah and Moses appear. The former represents the prophets and the latter represents the law. Jesus is the fulfillment of both. It has always been my contention that Peter, James and John experience this with Jesus because they will need this moment to get them through the most painful time in their lives. Their whole world is about to be turned upside down. Even though they are warned ahead of time, they still are caught off guard by Jesus’ arrest and his crucifixion. Peter we know, in his weakness, will deny Jesus. John, will be strong enough not to scatter with the others and James becomes the first of the martyred Apostles.

But if we think of this experience as one that helps the Apostles go through the hump, can we begin to ask who is not there? For example, Judas. Peter denies Jesus, Judas betrays Him. Did not Judas need that extra experience in order to know that he was on the right track in following Jesus so that he would not betray Him?

How about the other apostles and more importantly, why did not Jesus met with Moses and Elijah in the temple so that the chief priests and scribes could see this as well?

The answer to the former question is easy: Jesus uses a small group to teach a larger group. He teaches Martha of resurrection before he raises her brother Lazarus calling her to teach that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus teaches the Samaritan woman about his mercy who then goes and teaches others about Him. So here, he uses three of the Apostles to teach others first and later together, they teach the whole world. Therefore, He would have never done this before the chief priests and scribes, that was not His style, in fact he would only do miracles in front of them to challenge them because they were always ready for a fight. For this reason, they refused to be taught.

Yet, Judas is the key question here, why did not Jesus invite Judas? Judas betrayed Jesus, but all he did was to tell the leaders where He was. They were going to find Him and arrest Him anyway, eventually. Why did not Jesus invite Judas to the Mount of Transfiguration?

The answer appears to be simple. It would not have affected Judas.

I have always felt that Mel Brooks’ Catholic wife influenced his creation of the character Frau Bluker in Young Frankenstein. The reason is because whenever we hear Frau Bluker in the movie the horses are afraid. There is never a time in the movie when this does not happen. That is a comic device, but if you go to the gospel, in a non-comic reality notice that never is Judas portrayed in a good light. He is described as the betrayer from the first moment we see him. It is not a surprise to us that Judas betrays Jesus because we are warned of his dark heart from the earliest part of the gospel. Indeed, he is also described as a thief. Remember stealing is forbidden by the commandments. He is considered, therefore, a law-breaker, and a betrayer of not only Jesus, but his brother apostles. At the last supper we hear that Satan enters Judas’ heart.

Would his presence at the transfiguration do anything to change Judas’ heart? Nope!

Neither would it change the hearts of the scribes and the pharisees.

This brings to us one of the dynamics we see of Jesus’ teaching. He knows who will listen and who will not. He also bestows the tools needed to persevere upon those who will listen.

photo: wpclipart.com

We today are living in a world hostile to religion. This has been the case since the enlightenment, but today it is severe. There is a strong effort to lead people away from God and to focus on the exaltation of the success of the human race. Not a few people have compared today’s time to the days of the Tower of Babel.

You have a choice to listen to the word of God or the word of the world. Even if Jesus were to be transfigured on the Mall in Washington, DC the world would not embrace Him. Those who do embrace Him discover truth in eternal life. Those who don’t, like those who are participated in his death, will never be near his word or understand His truth.

So that leaves you with a choice, which group are you in, to whose voice are you listening: that of the world or that of the Lord. The answer to that question can be found in understanding what is your ultimate desire in life. To be richest the most famous among your family and friends, or to be among them in Heaven. Do you seek holiness or comfort, rarely can you find both? Do you seek to draw closer to Christ or is you desire limited by your desire for the things of this world? These questions lead us to understand which camp we are in. Further, you need to understand that those who are in the camp of the world cannot see Jesus as the Lord, even if He were to be Transfigured in front of them.

Further, remember Jesus’ model. Why does he preach his own gospel throughout the ages? That is not what He does. He calls a small group to teach a larger group. We in the Church are that smaller group called to teach the larger group which is that fertile ground in the world. That is the task given to each and every one of us at baptism. Are you up for the task to which you were called? Are you listening?

To which voice are you listening? To which voice do swear allegiance? How much do you embrace the word of God? Now is the time, this Second Sunday of Lent to ask yourself these questions?. Are you listening to the world? Are you listening to Christ? You can only comprehend Christ if you are open to His Spirit. Are you so open? Or are you closed? Ask yourselves these questions this week. Would you be invited onto the mount of transfiguration or would it be considered a waste of resources to bring you along? The answer is in your heart.

Fr. Carr is an alliance member of the New Song Community (Canção Nova). He is the pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Somerville, MA and is the editor of this blog.

You may also find his videos in English at Gloria.tv. They will soon also be appearing on the New Song Media website to be unveiled soon.