Scripture Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent
February 20, 2005
by Jacki
Popadich
Time Stand Still
Okay. Guilty pleasure confession time. I am a huge fan of the band Rush. When I was in eighth grade I was a metalhead -- and I loved Canadian heavy metal at that. Anyway, now that I've gotten that out of the way, I can reflect on this weekend's gospel.
See, every time I read the story of Jesus' Transfiguration, it makes me think of one of Rush's songs, "Time Stand Still." In it, Geddy Lee sings, "freeze this moment a little bit longer, make each sensation a little bit stronger," and "I'm not looking back, but I want to look around me now." It was almost as though he had gotten into Peter's head when he had experienced the Transfiguration.
Mountaintop Experience
At that time, Peter was so overwhelmed by what he was seeing that he wanted to take a little more time up on the mountain to reflect on and enjoy it. In our own lives, we also have these "mountaintop experiences" in which we just want time to freeze because everything seems so clear, true and real at that moment.
Coming Down the Mountain
However, after the Transfiguration, Jesus, Peter, James and John had to come back to the "real world". Time could not stand still, and they still had work to do. In our lives as Christians, we need to come down from that mountain too, because Jesus also left work for us to do. We have to strike the balance between that mountaintop moment of stillness and clarity, and the work of spreading the news of the gospel through our muddled reality.
So this weekend, look at mass as one of those great mountaintop experiences. We are all gathered together, and Jesus is truly there with us, just as he was that day on the mountain. And when mass is over, don't just leave it there. Take it out into the world with you and spread the word.
Please just don't tell anyone about my Rush thing, okay?
Life Applications:
What have been some mountaintop experiences in your life?
How have you brought that back into the "real world" with you?
What do you think of Canadian heavy metal?
Copyright 2005 by Jacki
Popadich
All rights reserved.
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