The Transfiguration
This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Lent in which we read the Gospel of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-9). It probably occurred around February 29 AD. Use your imagination to picture the scene: It is early morning. Perhaps Spring was early that year. Jesus and all His disciples are coming from northern Galilee, heading south towards Mt. Tabor which is southeast of Nazareth. At the foot of Mt. Tabor, Jesus says that Peter, James, and John will go with Him, and He sends the rest of the disciples along the roads to preach the Good News.
This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Lent in which we read the Gospel of Jesus’ Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-9). It probably occurred around February 29 AD. Use your imagination to picture the scene: It is early morning. Perhaps Spring was early that year. Jesus and all His disciples are coming from northern Galilee, heading south towards Mt. Tabor which is southeast of Nazareth. At the foot of Mt. Tabor, Jesus says that Peter, James, and John will go with Him, and He sends the rest of the disciples along the roads to preach the Good News.
Peter, being the oldest, is out of breath
much more quickly than young John, James, or Jesus, then maybe 32. Jesus says
to them to rest in the shade and goes over to a large rock at the summit of the
mountain to pray. The warmth and exertion soon have Peter, James, and John
cat-napping in the sunshine. Suddenly they are roused by a brilliancy that is
so striking that it overwhelms the brightness of the sun. They open their eyes
and are astonished and see Jesus transfigured – apparently how He looks in
heaven: the majesty of His face and body, the unearthly brightness about Him,
the brilliance of His garments as though like diamonds and pearls. It is
indescribable! They kneel, in
recognition of Jesus as God.
Then they see in brilliant lights around
Jesus two other figures: Moses and
Elijah, who are speaking of Jesus’ “departure,” His “exodus” (His suffering and
death). Loveable Peter, as he is wont to do, says something rather silly. Jesus
smiles warmly. Peter is all wobbly as if he were inebriated. A cloud comes, a
shimmering veil, and a powerful, harmonious Voice vibrates, filling the
air: “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased. Listen to Him.” Peter, James and John, still kneeling, bow
down with their faces on the grass. They do not see how the vision ends.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (at 555)
says: “For a moment Jesus discloses his
divine glory…. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross
at Jerusalem in order to ‘enter into his glory.’ Moses and Elijah had seen God’s glory on the
Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah’s sufferings. Christ’s
Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God’s servant; the cloud
indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. ‘The whole Trinity appeared: the
Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud’.”
This vision sustained Peter all his life. Perhaps
that is why he grieved so desperately at Jesus’ death – he had seen Jesus’
divinity and yet still he betrayed Him!
Later he would write, as proof that the Christian teaching was not some
“cleverly devised myth,” that he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ divine majesty on
the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:16-18.)
During Lent, Christians examine themselves
on their following of Christ, repent anew, and do penance. The virtue of
penance is to detest sin as an offense against God. They know God's Divine
Majesty and Glory and Holiness as Peter testified! Penance is both individual
(such as fasting, turning off the TV, increased daily prayer, quieting the
mind's criticism and judgment of others, denying ourselves small comforts) and
also social by doing works of mercy (such as praying for sinners, almsgiving,
visiting the sick, making greater efforts to be patient and kind). Penance is
repentance. And repentance, like love, needs to express itself. Words are the
start, and actions make good on the words. "Atone for your sins by good
deeds, and for your misdeeds by kindness to the poor" (Dn 4:24). At the
same time we exercise hope that God's grace will come to anoint our efforts and
will give us an increase of faith and charity (love), that we become more like
Christ each day. "Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return
to you" (Zech 1:3).
Dibby Green
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.