The Transfiguration of Jesus was a prelude to an even more important event: the Father's command to listen to Jesus (Mt 17:5). We need the Father's command to listen to Jesus because of our natural aversion to what Jesus is talking about — the cross. We don't want to hear about taking up the cross and dying on it daily (see Lk 9:23). With Peter, we are inclined to say to Jesus: "May You be spared, Master! God forbid that any such thing ever happen to You!" (Mt 16:22) (see Catechism, 554) However, we must resist the temptation to contrive a crossless Christianity. We must listen to Jesus about the cross; for the agony, pain, and weakness of the cross is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24) — even the perfection of God's power (2 Cor 12:9).

If we obey the Father's voice and listen to Jesus, we will not only hear Jesus proclaiming the cross but also "speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). Then people will be graced to listen to us. We will even come to the point of never boasting "of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6:14). At the foot of the cross, we will say with the Father: "Listen to Jesus."

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 19, 2014

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