The Lesson of the Transfiguration

     In the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent this year (Mt 17:1-9, proclaimed on February 17, 2008), Jesus takes Peter, John and James (notice the significance of the "three;"  today, there are always "three" present, since Jesus said "Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there."  That's empowering when you're making an ask for a major gift...but more about that at another time) up a mountain where he is transfigured.  Moses and Elijah were also standing there with Him.  Impetuously, Peter wants to build three booths, for this is where he wanted to stay.  Right after that, however, is where Jesus says that he must suffer and die, and told the three to not say anything about the vision until Jesus rose from the dead.

     Now how does that relate to your school?

     The disciples (learners, if you will), were given a vision.  Not only a vision in terms of what they saw, but they saw what could be!   Not only could they see what could be, it was a compelling vision.  Peter "got it" right away!  He wanted Jesus, Moses and Elijah to stay there - and he probably wanted to stay there too!  Therefore, are we giving our learners (both students and their parents), a compelling vision?  Are we telling them not only what we're about (our mission), but why we exist (our vision)?

     Parents today want to know why they should pay thousands of dollars for their children to be educated in your school.  Academic excellence?  They've come to expect that from us.  Formation in the Faith?  The children had better be receiving that.  A safe and caring enviroment? They want that wherever their children are.  They want more!  Today's parents, members of Generation X, ALWAYS want more.  The problem is, they don't always know exactly what they want.

     As followers of Jesus, we are called - compelled, if you will - to give more!  It's something we MUST do!  Isn't it interesting that what our parents want is exactly what we're supposed to do.  Recall that a little earlier in Matthew's Gospel (remember Matthew was a tax collector - he had a concern for money too...but he wasn't the "treasurer of the group" - that role was fulfilled by Judas) in chapter 5, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said....but I say to you..." a bunch of times!!  "If someone sues you for your tunic, give him your cloak as well!"  Jesus' love goes beyond what the law says to do (what's expected), and goes the extra mile...which is what we're supposed to do too.

     If you show people what can be, you give them hope.  Albert Einstein is credited with saying, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”  Since we can never fully know and understand God in our human existance, then God is there in the imagination - the "DREAM," if you will.  It's probably one of the reasons why angels appear to people with great faith in the dreams, because that is where God is.

     Next week - a practical example...

© Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2008  (Original publication date: 20080218)

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