The Luminous Mysteries: The Transfiguration and Our Desire for the More

We continue our series of reflections on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Today, we reflect on the fourth Mystery of Light: the Transfiguration of Jesus. In the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9), we, along with Peter, James, and John, get a glimpse of Jesus revealed in all his glory—a glimpse of what awaits at his Resurrection. Each of us is walking around with a vision of a hoped-for reality—an alternate reality—for ourselves, for those […]

Pop-Catechesis: The Transfiguration

I’m sure you can think of an experience in which you felt that someone you thought you knew showed their “true colors.” To show your true colors means to reveal yourself as you really are, for better or for worse. The Feast of the Transfiguration tells us the story of when Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountaintop and showed them his “true colors.” He revealed himself as he really is: the Son […]

How to Be a More Evangelizing Catechist #1: Proclaim an Alternate Reality to Our Brokenness

Welcome to the first post in my series on How to Be a More Evangelizing Catechist. In my introduction to the series, I talked about how marketing efforts often rely on nine formulaic strategies for persuading people that they need to purchase the product or service being advertised. They kick off their efforts by emphasizing that something is missing from your life or that something in your life, as you live it now, is broken […]

Second Sunday of Lent, Year A: The Promise of Glory

When you get down to it, each of us is walking around with a vision of a hoped-for reality—an alternate reality—for ourselves, for those we love, for our community, for our world. We imagine a world that exists somewhere beyond what our eyes can presently see. We have a choice: we can either approach life as a problem to be solved, a contest to be won, or as a mystery to be entered into more […]

Tapestry

A reflection on Matthew 17:1–9 Light and dark woven together colors blend together to provide an image threads of our lives intertwined to create each unique life Only God and I can see my tapestry Not even my closest companion not even my soul-mate can know the full tapestry that is me. Even I cannot see, at times. The image changes shifts blurs My eyes tune out the colors I do not wish to see […]

Second Sunday of Lent, Year C

It’s not unusual to ask someone with headphones on what they are listening to. Nowadays, folks spend large amounts of time listening to music or talk radio. We always seem to be listening to someone or something. In this Sunday’s story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, a voice from heaven tells Peter, James, and John, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” The Transfiguration of Jesus was a moment of focus […]

Catechists in Action: How Would You React to the Transfiguration?

In this segment of Catechists in Action, eighth-grade catechist Chris Brett discusses that Sunday’s Gospel reading of the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Watch for the following: Chris reminds them that the Transfiguration is one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary Chris asks the young people what they think the Apostles were thinking and what they themselves would have thought if they were present at the Transfiguration. Chris has his aide record their […]

Catechists in Action: Chris Brett Reads the Sunday Gospel

In this segment of Catechists in Action, eighth-grade catechist Chris Brett reads and discusses the Sunday Gospel with his students. Watch for the following: Chris has a key line from Gospel (the story of the Transfiguration) written on the board. Chris tells the students what to listen for and what to do as they hear the passage being read. Chris reads the Gospel passage to the young people. One suggestion that Chris might consider is […]