Second Sunday of Lent

Gospel

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“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.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Mt 17:1-9

Reflection

Today’s Gospel reading, which is commonly known as “The Transfiguration,” portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures for Matthew’s audience of Jews who would like to believe in Jesus but still have lingering doubts. Leading the disciples up a “high mountain,” Jesus is transfigured in brilliant, shining light, showing in traditional signs that this place and time are holy – indeed, they are extraordinary. Jesus has been “transfigured,” in a manner that is unknown in the normal human condition. He is the embodiment of purity and a beacon of light the likes of which the disciples have never seen. Two of the greatest figures of the Jewish faith, Moses, who led the Jews to liberation through the Red Sea, and Elijah, whose name means “My God is Yahweh,” and who challenged the worship of false gods, converse with Jesus, who is the fulfillment of the hopes of the Jewish people and their desire for eternal salvation.

Overshadowed by a cloud, the symbol of human unknowing and the darkness of sin that keeps us from seeing the full reality of God, the disciples most attend to the power of the Word. The voice of God the Father speaks to the disciples, telling them, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.” They tremble with a “fear” of God. But the beloved Son of God, who is beyond anything the disciples can imagine, suddenly appears and touches them, and the disciples hear Jesus’ voice, which commands them, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” They see no one but Jesus and are instructed, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

The Jews to whom the writers of Matthew’s Gospel are appealing must surely have been amazed and consoled by this message of the “Good News.” The Messiah, whom they have awaited for centuries, has truly come to them. Jesus is the beloved Son of the mighty God the Father who parted the Red Sea to save Moses and His Chosen People. Yet Jesus does not manifest Himself as the Messiah of strength, of power, or of political and social dominance. Just as Elijah waited for the Lord on Mount Horeb, where Moses had received the Ten Commandments, and expected to find Him in the mighty wind, an earthquake, or in the fire, but was surprised to find Him in “a still, small voice” (2 Kings 8:11-12), so, too, Jesus shows Himself by gently touching the disciples. He is God, physically present in our world. Yet the power of Jesus’ transfiguration and healing touch can only be understood through the prism of His willing acceptance of human weakness, suffering, and even a cruel, violent, and unjust death.

Action

Are we allowing Jesus to touch us and transfigure us in the midst of the struggles, sadness, weakness, ignorance, and sinfulness that we experience in our lives, or are we too afraid to let go of our old habits? What do I do or not do to bring darkness into my life and/or the lives of others? The “Good News” of today’s Gospel is an invitation for us to feel that healing touch of Jesus, and to let go of whatever fills us with darkness. Rather than seeking God in what glorifies me – riches, pride, honor – we might try to “find God in all things,” as Saint Ignatius Loyola said, finding God in the “still, small” voice of the little things in life that glorify God. We can then learn to be grateful for everything that God gives us, from the smallest breath of every moment, to the gift of faith, to the smile someone gives us, and, yes, even for the trials and problems that we face every day. If we can do this, then we will truly be “transfigured!” As one of my parishioners used to tell me, “Father, every day that I’m six feet above ground rather than six feet below it is a good day!” Transfiguration is possible, perhaps not as dramatically as Jesus experienced it, but even small metanoias can bring remarkably satisfying results to our world, which needs so much more healing and joy!

Fr. Mark DeStephano
St. John XXIII, ANCC, Philadelphia
Secretary, ANCC Executive Council
Director, ANCC Theological Commission