We cannot help but exclaim in wonder: "O admirable exchange!" as we listen to today's first and third readings. Abraham was prepared to give God his only son, Isaac, in sacrifice. God reciprocates with His own offering: "This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to Him!"

Abraham's traditionalistic, ethnic ideas about his God became transformed on the mountain of sacrifice. He experienced a compassionate loving God who did not want to hurt the human life He had created in His image and likeness.

Peter, James and John were caught up into an ecstatic experience of the majestic glory of Jesus transfigured. It was a glimmer of hope in their Master before He underwent His passion and death. The heavenly voice is for their benefit to confirm them in their conviction and to accept the divinely ordained destiny of Jesus (Mk. 8:29-31).

It is a paradox that we and the disciples need to live with. To understand Jesus apart from His "cross-dimension" is to misunderstand Him. Every experience of the glorified Christ in the Sacraments and in the Church should strengthen us to accept the cost of discipleship, which consists in the obedient listening to His Word, strengthening us to embrace the cross in our lives.