Our Lenten journey continues as we leave the desert, temptation and the devil behind and climb a mountain with Jesus, Peter, James and John. Jesus "went up the mountain to pray" (Luke 9:28). While praying, his “face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white” (Luke 9:29). Then Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and St. Luke implies that they confirmed Jesus’ earlier prediction about his Passion, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22). This is the "exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem"(Luke 9:31). The Transfiguration gave Peter, James and John a glimpse of Jesus’ glory after His passion and resurrection. They actually heard the voice of God say, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him" (Luke 9:35).
For us, reading about the Transfiguration 2000 years after the event, this is old news. It is something we take for granted. For Peter, James and John, the Transfiguration was an astounding revelation, one they could not begin to understand. They found the experience so overwhelming that they could not "tell anyone what they had seen" (Luke 9:36). It was only after the death and resurrection of Jesus and the experience of Pentecost that they began to comprehend what took place.
Peter, James and John had a valid excuse for not acting immediately on what they saw and heard. They did not know what was to come. We have the advantage of history. We know the end of the story. We know that Jesus was crucified and we know that three days later he was resurrected in glory and that he joined his Father in Heaven. We also know that by becoming human and by freely suffering death and resurrection, Jesus assured us freedom from sin, the possibility of sanctification and finally, eternal life (Romans 6:22). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that " the Transfiguration 'is the sacrament of the second regeneration': our own Resurrection. From now on we share in the Lord's Resurrection through the Spirit who acts in the sacraments of the Body of Christ" (CCC 556). St. Paul tells us in today's second reading from Philippians 3:17 - 4:1, "The Lord Jesus Christ ... will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself." And, repeating Pope Francis’ 2019 Lenten message to us, we welcome “Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives [so] we will also radiate its transforming power to all of creation.”
Great and faithful God,
your presence fills us with awe;
your word gives us unshakable hope.
Fix in our hearts
the image of your Son in glory,
that, sustained on the path of discipleship,
we may pass over with him to newness of life.
Grant this through Christ, our deliverance and hope,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
your presence fills us with awe;
your word gives us unshakable hope.
Fix in our hearts
the image of your Son in glory,
that, sustained on the path of discipleship,
we may pass over with him to newness of life.
Grant this through Christ, our deliverance and hope,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN
