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Second Sunday Of Lent

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Second Sunday Of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent (Year C)

Gen 15.5-12, 17-18; Ps 26; Phil 3.17-4.1; Lk 9.28-36

THE TRANSFIGURATION : A FORETASTE OF GOD’S GLORY

Today’s gospel presents us with a very vivid picture, perhaps a rather surprising one for Lent. Our Lord has gone up a mountain with His three closest disciples, the three who were the first to be called, the same three who would be with Him in His agony in the garden of Gethsemane. On the mountain as he was praying, before their very eyes, His appearance was changed and they were given a glimpse, a preview, of His radiant glorified body, the shining splendour that would be His after the resurrection.

Second Sunday of Lent

IN CHRIST, THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS IS BEING FULFILLED

Standing together with Jesus, the disciples also  saw Moses and Elijah, two great men from the history of Israel, representing the Law and the Prophets. Moses had been God’s instrument in revealing the Law.  Elijah had been one of his greatest spokesmen, proclaiming God’s will to the people. Both of these giants of Israel’s history were still held in very high honour by the Jews of Our Lord’s time. The presence of Moses and Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration was to remind us that they, the Law and the prophets, had already foretold that the Christ had to suffer. Christ has brought the religion of Moses and Elijah to its fullest perfection, in His own Person.

THE HOPE THAT IS BEING GIVEN…

What then is revealed in the Transfiguration? The disciples were probably rather despondent and confused by this talk of suffering and dying. They had the virtue of faith, albeit with a rather partial understanding. What they lacked was another of the three theological virtues – hope. Hope, to enable them to persevere in their faith, despite their confusion, despite His teaching about the necessity of death. That is what the disciples needed to help them to follow their master to Jerusalem, the place of His certain death. For it is through that death that He was to be glorified, and it is through His death that He invites us to share in that glory.

ABRAM’S COVENANT

In a similar fashion to Abram, in our first reading from Genesis.  As Abram waited for the animals to burn out a deep trance fell upon him. This story tells us about God’s covenant and his willingness to stay close and involved with us. Even supplying the flaming torch. God uses the same object (or similar words) to reinstate us into covenant. The important thing for us is to remember is God’s mercy and forgiveness. No matter how bad our transgressions, God desires a right relationship with us.

CHRISTIAN HOPE

This leads us to our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.
St Paul says in the letter to the Philippians: “Our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of His glorious body.”’  Phil 3:20-21.

His glorious body’: that is what the disciples were given a glimpse of, and we have the promise that our own lowly bodies will one day be transfigured, like His. This is what gives us great hope. It is the key to understanding the full dimensions of Christ’s passion. It is through this hope that  we shall keep our faith intact when times are dark.  Paul encourages his community not to be distracted with earthly things but to elevate themselves and embrace our true destiny. They and us are worthy of citizenship in Heaven.

REMINDERS

So the Transfiguration is a very proper theme for Lent and to always pray just as Christ does. It reminds us also of why we are undergoing some voluntary self-denial during Lent. It is a foretaste of Christ’s hidden glory, as we prepare for Holy Week. It gives us hope by pointing us towards that glorious reward which God  promises to all those who persevere to the end – a blessing I wish for us all.

Fr. Joseph Osho OSJ.

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