Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA.

HAGIOS CYCLE

The Greek word hagios simply means “holy, saintly”. The term cycle represents a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order. This theological phrase I’ve coined is meant to convey the idea that our spiritual journey repeatedly follows a pattern in which the end goal is a transfiguration. The hagios cycle should start with divine invitation and end with divine invitation. The first divine invitation is where the believer begins his/her earthly journey of transfiguration with the Lord through participating in the sacraments. He/she completes the cycle with another divine invitation where his/her soul is invited into heaven to share in the company of the saints. Of all the stages in the hagios cycle, the last divine invitation is a conditio sine qua non (something one cannot do without) if (s)he is to make it to heaven. Spiritual life is a summary of key spiritual moments and every moment can be vital for one’s salvation and entrance into heaven. All the other key moments can be absent from the life of a person but if (s)he is blessed with the last divine invitation, (s)he will make it to heaven. I will explain more on this with biblical references at the end of this reflection, but let us first take a look at what happens in-between the two divine invitations.

The hagios cycle begins with a divine invitation, for no one can merit holiness by his/her own means – it is given freely by God. In today’s gospel passage, Matthew narrates a beautiful example of a hagios cycle. The inspired writer tells us that out of the twelve Apostles, the privilege of a hagios experience was given to Peter, James, and his brother John. Jesus gave them the honor of journeying with him to experience his transfiguration which was an experience of a lifetime.

And so, the first stage of the hagios cycle begins with divine invitation. If you are standing with us in a sacred ground of a church or a sanctuary, count yourself blessed. The author of the letter to the Hebrews puts it this way: “And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was” (Hebrews 5:4). An important part of the first stage is that those who are invited have to say, “YES”. When Jesus called Peter, James and John, he did not force them to follow him but rather the three exercising their free will, said “YES” to the divine invitation given by Jesus. Whenever I celebrate Mass, I say a silent prayer of thanks to all the congregants who decided to say YES to divine invitation and come to church. I also want to thank you for going to church today because you had other options but you chose to be in a church.

The second stage is equally important in the hagios cycle. It is the stage of Ascent of the Mountain. Some of you who are familiar with Carmelite spirituality may know the importance of transcendental spirituality. When one receives divine invitation, (s)he is meant to climb the holy mountain with Jesus. In today’s gospel passage, we are told that when Jesus had invited the three Apostles, he led them up a high mountain. In Catholic spirituality, the mountain is a symbol of the dwelling place of God. It is like as if one wants to meet God, (s)he needs to climb a mountain. It is not surprising that ancient and medieval monasteries/churches were built on a township’s high location. In our contemporary times when one receives the divine invitation, (s)he is meant to climb the sacred mountain in his/her own mind and heart. Transcendence takes place in the hearts and minds of the children of God. This prophecy was given by the Lord himself when he declared: “…believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him” (John 4:21-25).

Please clean your hearts and minds, for that transfiguration is taking place today. The Lord is in your heart. If the Lord dwells within us, then we need to be blessed with the spiritual eyes to behold his blessedness. Didn’t Peter, James and John, see Jesus every day? But on the day of the Transfiguration what they witnessed was a totally different Jesus. For Peter, he was lost for words but he managed a few to make this suggestion: “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah…”

As you partake in today’s Mass, may you experience such a beatific encounter. I have met Catholics who have had such glimpses of divine ecstasy. What Daniel tells us in the first reading represents this. Daniel’s vision is a key part of the hagios cycle. If you have really entered the hagios cycle, God will one day bless you with a sign of the transfiguration’s blessedness. But please do not stress if you have not experienced it yet because the real one awaits you when you see Jesus face to face in heaven.

The most important part of the hagios cycle is the confirmation of Jesus as the Son of God. This is when God makes the bold claim: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased…” This statement is directed to any person who enters the baptismal waters. By one’s Christian initiation, one becomes a son or daughter of God.

The last piece of the hagios cycle is one’s last divine invitation. This last invitation can be the crowning of one’s series of spiritual events but it can stand on its own merit without any reference or history of spiritual events. The crowning of one’s other spiritual events happens when grace has moved the person purificatively through the other stages and has brought him/her to the point of entrance into heaven and sainthood. How beautiful to witness this hagios cycle in a person’s life. At least most of us witnessed this in the life of Pope St. John Paul II. On the famous April 2, 2005 night, as thousands of people stood in front of the Apostolic Palace’s window in St. Peter’s square, they witnessed the gradual passage of Pope John Paul II into heaven. It was no surprise that when he was finally invited to heaven, the crowd started shouting santo subito (sainthood immediately). This is the end of a hagios cycle we are all praying for, but there is a second type that is devoid of a heartwarming series of spiritual events – for it stands on its own. This is the final divine invitation that a known public sinner miraculously receives from Jesus. A key example is the one given to the thief on the cross on Good Friday. He found himself on that fateful day, knowing that the punishment he was receiving was rightly given to him but a faith opportunity came his way and Jesus invited him to paradise that day. Examples like this have motivated Catholics over the centuries to pray for a happy end in life. You may not have the history of spiritual events in your life, but pray that at the point of your death, you will receive a miraculous divine invitation to the joys and blessedness of heaven.

As blessed as this theology is, we have a big challenge. Some Christians in our world today can only appreciate the theology of hagios cycle, but they don’t practice the virtues that come with it. Holiness of life is required of a person who is caught-up in the hagios cycle. It was not enough for Peter, James and John to behold the beauty of the transfiguration but Jesus wanted them to live it. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Transfiguration, let us make efforts to live out the virtues the feast portrays. Holiness is not an abstract event; it is possible for you to become a saint.  

Do not fix your life in the cycles of earthly glamour that will certainly pass away but be situated and confirmed in the hagios cycle. Start every day with Jesus and end the day with Jesus. Isn’t it awesome for a family to start their day with Holy Mass or family morning prayer and end with family night prayer? Fix your family and yourself in the hagios cycle for the hagios cycle is whirling with or without you. May God help us all. Amen. OUR LADY OR PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.