False Self

200 Words: Eyes are opened – Jesus reveals his glory. Ears are opened – the Father speaks with clarity

Evidently, the first two weeks of Lent encourage us to reflect upon the mystery of Jesus.

The testing of Jesus (Matthew 4) manifests his humanity.

Our good friend Brendan Byrne, SJ, says Jesus is being invited to the ‘false self,’ and what is true for Jesus is applicable to us:

We are tempted to identify with what we do. 

We are tempted to identify with what people think of us.

We are tempted to identify with possessions – wealth, thoughts or ambitions.

The transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17) manifests his divinity:

There in their presence Jesus was transfigured. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light.

Eyes are opened – Jesus reveals his glory. Ears are opened – the Father speaks with clarity:

This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.

Our good friend Austin Cooper, OMI, sees in the transfiguration of Jesus the essence of Christian spirituality:

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.

We let ourselves ‘be taken.’

We put aside the false self in favour of the true self.

Amen.