True glory

True glory is the glory of love because it is the only kind that gives life to the world. ~ Pope Francis, Holy Week 2019

I had been preparing what I hoped would be a heartening reflection on today's Gospel of the Transfiguration, which I will probably complete later this week. But yesterday evening I had to put it aside, as my feeds filled with news of air strikes, conflict, death and destruction in Iran and across the Middle East. And as I prayed and reflected, I realised this Gospel, this account of an incredible moment in the life of Jesus, and three of his disciples, has a lot to say in response to this new war, and our instability.

On the mountaintop, the disciples glimpse Jesus, absolutely, resplendently, radiant in glory. They see his glory at other times, too, though less obviously, dazzlingly so. And this was not an obvious, worldly glory based on military might, or the outcome of superior firepower or the humiliation of violently vanquished enemies. Rather, it was at times a glory they might have struggled to name as such, except through eyes and hearts of faith and growing understanding.

Jesus was fully alive with God's glory; he reflected it, whether his face and clothes shone or not. Jesus' glory was in his humanity, in his constant love, and in his vulnerability... in his surrender and time of greatest weakness... in his total gift of himself, and in his abundant love, poured out for all... in his sin-defeating death, and of course, in his Resurrection, and everlasting presence among us. And it is this glorified Jesus who calls us to follow him, and to allow him to transfigure us, into radiant reflections of his generous love, tenderness, compassion and - so, so necessary - his gift of peace, and reconciliation. Becaue true glory is the glory of love, not war - and it is the only kind that can give life to the world.

And let us pray together for our wounded, suffering world, for our leaders, and for ourselves, that we too will work for peace and reconciliation, and the glory of love in our communities and contexts.