2 Peter 1
Meditation, reflection, revelation, apparition, miracles, symbolism, sacrifice, ritual, dogma, scriptural interpretation, church, mysticism, asceticism, monasticism, hierarchy, sacrament, sacramental, religious art, hymn, and so on and the like.
A word-list about religion can be long. They sound transcending daily life above and beyond this world. It is true. Religion is not of this world. It is holy in the sense that it is set aside from this world. It is sacred, not profane.
But some people think religion is a mental construction of the human mind. They think religion is a mental projection, abstraction, symbolization, or mystification. In other words, religion is a mental creation that is expressed in literature, arts, rituals, theology, and hierarchy. According to them, the man creates gods and religions.
But St Peter makes it clear that’s not the case in Christianity. He says, “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peter knew there were “cleverly devised” religions. But he emphasizes the human mind did not create Christianity. He continues, “but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” During this pandemic, there are different theories where and how this virus was transmitted to humans, but no eyewitness yet. But St Peter tells us there were eyewitnesses including himself who “heard this voice from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” The divinity of Christ was not a postulation of the apostles. They heard God’s voice saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved. With him, I am well pleased.”
The Good News, the Gospel is not a human message. The Gospel message indeed transcends this world because its origin is from above. But it’s not a human conjecture. As St Peter testifies, “we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed” by the Lord himself. On this feast of the Transfiguration, let scatter all doubts and confusion. Let us ask our Lord to call us once again to become the eyewitnesses of his glory.
