Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14.
Philippians 3:17—4:1 or Philippians 3:20—4:1
Luke 9:28b-36 Full Readings
A Taste of Heavenly Glory
Brethren, every year the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent recounts Jesus’ Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. We are invited to climb this mountain during Lent. Mountain climbing is hard, but when we reach the top, we see things differently. The air is cleaner, the light is clearer, we come closer to God, and we are changed by the effort. We should not try by all means not to sleep when we arrive at the top of the mountain, just as the three Apostles who went with Jesus slept and were almost missing to behold the glory of God, which shone on the face and the clothes of Jesus. Mount Tabor calls us to trust in the glory that awaits us. During this lent, we shall climb this mountain only through our deep and meaningful prayers, especially coming for mass, where God will reveal his glory in the silence of our hearts.
The transfiguration experience was to show his Apostles a taste of the heavenly glory, the beatific vision where we shall see God face to face. Beholding the beatific vision is the final grace of our Christian calling, of our call to holiness of life. This is because, as St Paul tells us in the second reading, we are not citizens of this world but citizens of heaven, where Jesus 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. In heaven, our bodies will be transfigured in the same way as that of Jesus during transfiguration, and we shall have a glorified body. There we shall be like God and be in perfect communion with him.
But why did Jesus let his Apostles taste this heavenly glory? This was with a reason because this experience happens after Jesus predicts his death, to prepare his apostles to face his suffering; it's one of the experiences the father is revealing his son to us. Jesus gave these Apostles this very brief experience of His glory and also to us today because they would need that taste of His goodness for the road ahead. They would need to forever remember what their final destiny was. They would need to hold this experience close as they endured the many crosses and sufferings ahead. They would use this experience to remind themselves that whatever they had to endure on the journey up the mountain of life was worth it. Because on the summit is a glory so great that no hardship, they would have to endure would ever prove to be too big.
Thus, to behold the heavenly glory, one must follow the way of Christ, the way of suffering. Jesus was glorified by the Father because of his obedience to die on the cross, and thus God raised him up and gave him a name above all other names. His glorification lied in the fulfilment of his mission. This mission is what Moses and Elijah were discussing with Jesus during transfiguration. When the Gospel of Luke narrates the transfiguration of Jesus, he is the only one who tells us what Moses and Elijah spoke about with Jesus. They spoke about Jesus’ exodus. Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness on the way to the earthly promised land. Jesus will lead all people out of the slavery of sin to the heavenly promised land: “Jesus is gathering the new Israel around him as he journeys to Jerusalem in a new exodus that will culminate in a new Passover (the Institution of the Eucharist), marking the deliverance of Israel not from Egyptian bondage but the bondage to sin.” This mission was fulfilled through suffering and this is the ultimate way we too must follow. But even with that, there are other things we should keep in mind according to today's Gospel if we are to behold God's glory.
Firstly, we must stay awake not to fall asleep like the Apostles; otherwise, the glory of God will pass by us. How much do we miss God's glory and action because we are asleep spiritually? There are many things which can keep our minds asleep to the things of God: Mental lethargy and the "unexamined life" can keep us from thinking things through and facing our doubts and questions. The life of ease can also hinder us from considering the challenging or disturbing demands of Christ. Prejudice can make us blind to something new the Lord may have for us. Even sorrow can be a block until we can see past it to the glory of God. This is all human condition. Peter and his companions, therefore, teach us that it is easy for us in our fallen human nature to “doze off” during those times when God wants to speak to us, especially while at Mass. Are you spiritually awake? The Lord wants to reveal his glory to us, his beloved disciples.
Secondly, is to listen and learn from Jesus. At the transfiguration, the apostles were awestruck and didn’t know what to say. Peter felt compelled to say something, although it seems he really didn’t know what he was saying. The question is: Why did he feel as if he had to say something? Often in the spiritual life, we can struggle with the temptation to say too much. In this gospel passage, we hear the portentous words of the Father: “This is my son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Christ is calling us to listen attentively to his words and not to feel compelled to have to say something. He is looking for a response in action more than in words.
The three Apostles saw his face shining as the sun and clothes shining as white, meaning in him there is no sin. The church gives us this gospel today in this journey of Lent to assess ourselves in our call as Christians, what needs to be purified, where have we gone wrong, to examine our sins most clearly with the light of Jesus, and then re-journey in the way of perfection. Therefore, transfiguration shows the glory we will have when we repent and how we shall savour the Lord's goodness even up to forgetting ourselves. Peter forgot that they too (the three apostles) were to build their tent too but focused on Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. We only focus on the Lord's goodness, and this is the final grace of our Christian calling, of our call to holiness of life: to experience the beatific vision, that is, seeing him face to face, the son of God, the Lord of all.
Let us Pray.
My transfigured Lord, You shone in radiance before the eyes of Your Apostles so that they could testify to the beauty of the life to which we are all called. During this Lent, help me to face my sin with courage and confidence in You and in Your power to not only forgive but to also transform. My I die to sin more deeply than ever before so as to share more fully in the glory of Your divine life. Amen
Blessed Sunday
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