“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Mark 9:7
Piety
Speak Lord. Your Servant is listening.
Here I am Lord. I come to do your will.
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/021707.shtml
Through faith God guarantees the blessings to be hoped for from him, providing evidence in the gift of faith that what he promises will eventually come to pass. Christians have even greater reason to remain firm in faith since they, unlike the Old Testament men and women of faith, have perceived the beginning of God's fulfillment of his messianic promises.[1]
In speechmaking and speechwriting, there is a device called flagging. The writer or speaker uses it when they really, really want the audience to pay attention to what is coming next. It makes it easy to identify key points.
While there are a lot of examples, one of the more famous phrases was often used by President Nixon when he wanted to make a point. He would use the phrase, “Let me make this perfectly clear.” Then he would utter the point he wanted the audience and the media to understand. Today, the first reading sets up the important message and then Mark comes along with flags waving and underlines the point of faith and conduct when the voice of God utters, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
This is the second time in Mark’s Gospel that God’s own voice is heard by the people. On both occasions, God claimed Jesus as his own. Today, that anointing goes one step further with the command, “Listen to Him.” Moses got Ten Commandments. Listen to Him. We only get one. Listen to Him.
Looking back and looking ahead in the Gospel Mark recorded reveals some of the wisdom taught by Jesus. Yesterday, we heard Jesus’ second call to discipleship. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34-35)
Following the Transfiguration, Mark goes on to provides a veritable catechism class of lessons spoken by Jesus to which we must pay close attention.
Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things. (12)
The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt. (13)
Everything is possible to one who has faith. (23)
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise. (31)
If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. (35)
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. (40)
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. (42)
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another. (50)
That is only the wisdom on faith and service revealed in one chapter of the 16 offered to us by St. Mark. Listen to Him. There are 15 more chapters in this Gospel alone. Listen to Him.
Jesus did not want St. Peter building any
Action
One must believe not only that God exists but that he is concerned about human conduct; the Old Testament defines folly as the denial of this truth.[2]
God works through others to help us to understand his Word and his Works. For Peter, James and John, the appearance of Jesus, Moses and Elijah provided that powerful lesson. If Jesus took you up to the mountaintop today, who might appear on the cloud of witnesses with him?
Martin Luther King?
Dorothy Day?
St. Francis?
Henri Nouwen?
Thomas Merton?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer?
Jean Donovan?
Dorothy Kazel?
Maura Clark?
Ita Ford?
Oscar Romero?
What would they ask you to do?
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