“This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Gen 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10 (B Lent 2)
“The Lord went before them in
a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way” (DO)
In
today’s Gospel we hear of “The Transfiguration” of Jesus. In hearing of Jesus’ transfiguration
in Lent, we anticipate Jesus’ resurrection, as we meditate upon Jesus’ passion
and death. Mark the evangelist writes that the garments of Jesus became “white
as snow”. Matthew explains that His face became radiant as the sun.
From
eternity Jesus had been in the form (morphe) of God. This had been his
original form, but in the fullness of time he took upon him the form of a
servant. Now for a while he resumes the form which he had laid aside. The form
of a servant is changed back (metemorphothe) into that of God. A
renowned theologian J.J Given comments that the beams of heavenly light flashed
from head to foot of Jesus. The whole man presented an unearthly splendor. After
Moses' interview with God on mount Sinai, the skin of his face shone radiant.
The face of Stephen, the proto-martyr in the council was shown like an angel. In the
case of Stephen and of Moses it was a borrowed brightness, whereas the Savior's
face shone with native irradiation. The whole temple of Savior's
body was brightened up and beautified with celestial glory.
The
apostles Peter, John and James felt so overwhelmed by the experience that they
did not want it to end. Peter exclaimed, “It is good for us to be here”! We all
feel the same way when we have a religious experience. But Jesus tells us that
glory comes only after rising from the dead. We cannot fully celebrate the glory
of the Lord until we share in his passion and his death. In a momentary rapture
Peter forgot that he was still in a scene of pilgrimage and in a state of
sojourn. He forgot he was a stranger in a strange land, which is neither his
rest nor his home. He forgot that the Christian's life is a journey. What
traveler can reach his destination without the toil of travelling?
The
Gospel still reports that Moses, the Law-giver; Elijah, the Law-restorer; and
Jesus, the Law-fulfiller had discussed and the subject of their conversation
was about the decease or the death that was to be accomplished. St Pope Leo the
Great says that it was a death which patriarchs, and priests, and prophets, and
pious persons under the old dispensation looked and longed for – a death which
not only fulfilled the predictions, but realized the typical institutions of
old legal economy. It was the death of deaths. It was the gateway to eternal
life. It “opened the door of heaven to all believers.” It was an offering.
Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.”
The consequence
of Jesus’ transfiguration is to reconcile the disciples to the sufferings of
their Master, and sustain them. It was also meant to prepare them for the
approaching crisis and to comfort them when it came. It was to confirm their
faith in his divine majesty, even when, he was nailed to the cross. Finally we
heard that in the Gospel that the apostles had been “heavy with sleep,” but wide
awake and fully alive to witness all that transpired. Now it is our call to be
awake from deep spiritual slumber and acedia to witness our own change
of heart and mind to the Words of Jesus on the Cross. A momentary spiritual joyous
experience in prayer can help us to yearn for the long and lasting bliss in God.
Our crucified Christ will help us in this Lent when we journey with him.
“The Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud to lead them along
the way” (DO)
