Awe and Tremble – “Tremendum et Fascinosum”

Weekly Missionary Reflection
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 06 August 2023
Dan. 7:9-10,13-14; Ps. 97:1-2,5-6,9; 2Pet. 1:16-19; Matt. 17:1-9

Today Catholic churches around the world are celebrating the Transfiguration of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, we know that this happened at a high mountain and was witnessed by three disciples of Jesus: Peter, James, and John. This event had witnessed. Having a witness is very important as people will believe what is seen by someone, and confirm it to be true. This is the preaching key of Jesus’ disciples as they are direct witnesses to the glory of our Lord. Upon seeing the Lord’s Transfiguration, Peter, and his friends were so amazed and trembled. The joy and amazement inflamed their heart for God’s love. While they were filled with overjoy and awe, a voice from the cloud was heard, it confirmed the Transfiguration. It made Peter and his friends fall prostrate and terrified feeling helpless. A feeling of awe and fear mixed together. Knowing this, Jesus touched them and said, “Get up, don’t be afraid!” Jesus invites His disciples to live in His glory and joy of His love.

In the second reading of 2 Peter 1:16-19 Peter said that the glory of the Lord he was preaching was not a devised myth but he had eyewitnessed of His majesty. Peter would like to convince that Jesus was the Lord, the true Teacher who proved Himself in the Transfiguration that he had eyewitnessed. Jesus is unlike the false teachers or prophets who tell lies and think of their own interests.  Peter as the real witness preached loudly about the majesty of the God and glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

In today’s modern society it is not uncommon to find many false teachers or prohets who proudly convey to the world that they are the ones who have the key to the Kingdom of Heaven. Some appear and claim to be Catholic priests, graduates of a certain college and cheat for personal gain.  This is the clear difference between Jesus’ true disciples and false teachers. False teachers make a living while true disciples of Christ proclaim the Kingdom of God. 

Today’s reading invites us to be witness of God’s glory. How to be the witness of God’s glory? First, we are invited to be close to Jesus. Go wherever Jesus goes and do what Jesus does. Second, feel awe and fear the same time. This awe and fear encourage us to boldly proclaim the Kingdom of God as we know that God is great and Jesus will always be with us. His glory will always shine the path of our lives. The simple mission that we can do is boldly show our Catholicism in social life, to live in love like Christ who has loved us  and to celebrate the life as a Catholic with joy. May we always be in the awe of God’s glory and tremble, so that we can testify of His glory. 

(Ignasius Lede – Commission for Mission of The Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy and sorrow in the unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

For World Youth Day
We pray that World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.

Independence IdealsWe pray that the government and the members, political elites, and intellectuals will strive together for the ideals of independence and national integrity, with no disputes and arguments that perplex the people and break unity and harmony.

Amen.