Sunday, March 4, 2012

A Lobster, Comments, and the Transfiguration

Well, I am quite thrilled that Victor has bestowed the prestigious Lobster Award on me.   (More on the award in a second ...)


And while I am thankful that he has given me this highly prized crustacean, I am also now left with the challenge of weaving it into a post about today's gospel.  


Here goes nothing ...


First, the award.  Victor sums up his invention this way:


This magnificent and rarely presented Award is only given to those tireless and hard-working Bloggers who, despite the many vicissitudes which life may throw in their way, despite the magnitude of the task ahead in their daily grind that is this vale of tears, despite every obstacle, every hardship, and every discouragements and temptations to just click and move on to another Blog; they still find time to visit your personal offering and to regularly leave a message there in the Comments Box. 


(Little does Victor know that I enjoy reading his posts, and leaving a comment on his page is really no work at all.  But I will continue to feign sweat and tears each time I visit if it means I can call myself an Award Winning Blogger .  Shhhh.  Our secret.)


In any case, today we read about the Transfiguration.  


I usually focus on two things when I read that passage:  (a) wonder at what it really looked like, and (b) pity for poor St. Peter who blurted out the only thing he could think of to help.    


But Victor's award has forced me to think of a new angle.


Perhaps this event was Jesus taking time out from His "daily grind that is this vale of tears, full of every obstacle, every hardship, and every discouragement and temptation" to show three of his closest friends that he cares.  


He gave them a glimpse of something really special.  Something no one else got to see.  A sneak peak at the bigger picture.  A sign that would help them believe. 


A token of appreciation, perhaps.


And so now it is my turn.  I tried my hardest to turn my clothes dazzling white, but alas, I'm just a mere mortal.  So instead, I will turn you blog red, and hand out this Lobster Award to those of you that take the time out of your busy days to let me know you are out there and reading:


Victor
Mary
Karinann
Colleen
Daily Grace
Shirley
Carol
Jade
Noreen
Andie
Kathryn
Anne


I really do appreciate the camaraderie.


(And thank you to everyone else that reads this blog each week, knowing comments are not a requirement!)


God Bless.


P.S.  A special thanks to Victor for not only coming up with this award, but for always trying to inspire the rest of us!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Very clever Michael. Only you could connect a blog award and the Gospel :)
I agree with the cooment you left me today- I too learn more about the Transfiguration with every hearing and from different perspectives. I often wonder what the long climb down that mountain must have been like given what these men had just witnessed.
Thanks for the award. Two lobsters (as Victor also awarded it to me)~my plate is certainly full :)
God bless.

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Hi Michael,

For some unknown reason my long comment appeared here after I pressed "Publish" and then vanished.

So here goes again:

1 Thanx for your kind comments and for passing the award on. It's important that as Christian Bloggers we visit each other and encourage each other. I'm not alone in thanking my readers/commenters and praying for them.

2 A priest I know asked why Elijah and Moses appeared at the Transfiguration and not some other prophets or Old Testament figure. He explained that Elijah represents the old prophets and Moses represents the old Law (Commandments).

3 I have re-posted on my Blog the video you were not able to see. I hope it works.

God bless you.

Shirley said...

Thanks for thinking of me, although I have an unwritten policy of not posting awards, I do appreciate it.
I have always liked St. Peter's comment,"it is good for us to be here"- in the Presence of Jesus glorified, and the prophets and the Old Testament personified- for that's what we have in our Mass, Jesus glorified in the Host, the prophets in the Psalms, and the Old Testament in the first reading. It is good for us to be at Mass, just as it was for the 3 Apostles to be at the Transfiguration. And when Peter says, let us build 3 dwelling places, it also reminds me of the Mass, and the Liturgy. We build dwelling places for Jesus, the prophets and the Old Testament every time we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Peter's comment was, perhaps, not so gauche.

none said...

Thank you for the award! I really enjoyed reading your enlightening thoughts on the transfiguration. :) "A token of appreciation, a sneak peak at the bigger picture" Comforting

Michael said...

You are all welcome! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Aww... Thanks Michael but I'm afraid I have been a little slow and lacks in leaving comments on blogs as of late, although, I do to read all of my favorite blogs on a regular basis. I hope I'm forgiven and I will accept this little crustacean in the spirit in which it was given. Bless you!