SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, YR C
Gen 15:5-12; Ps 27
Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36
PREPARING FOR THE NEW EXODUS
Today’s gospel reading is Luke’s record of the story of the transfiguration, where Jesus took his inner circle on the mountain to pray. While he was praying, his appearance changed while Moses and Isaiah appeared to him discussing about his exodus which was about to take place.
Mountains are generally the meeting places between the Divine and men, and so when we read that Jesus took the disciples to the mountain, it is an indication that there would be a certain divine encounter. We are also told that he took them there to pray. Prayer is the purpose of going up the mountain. Simply going up the mountain is not the way to meet God, but to pray. Similarly, merely coming to Church does not guarantee an encounter with God, but to do so in prayer with sincerity, honesty and love. When we are preparing to come to Church, we should always prepare ourselves for an encounter with God. Coming to Church, is good but not enough because merely being in Church does not guarantee the encounter, we must have a disposition of prayer. Prayer is the fullness of our presence on the “mountain”.
In prayer, we implore God for our guidance and needs. It helps us in building and strengthening our relationship with God. In the most confusing moment of our lives, we pray for divine guidance and direction. Prayer is a kind of alertness to God’s presence beyond the world. Only prayer makes us truly aware that God is present in this space of the Church.
On the mountain, as Jesus prayed, his appearance changed, allowing his disciples to better see who he is. In humble submission to God in prayer, the Holy Spirit transforms us more into who we truly are. We are children of God redeemed by the precious blood of his Son, partakers with Jesus of the riches of God’s kingdom.
Prayer is the only means by which we can overcome the spatial and temporal dimension and enter God’s eternal dimension. Prayer truly changes us.
What is interesting is that, while Jesus was praying the disciples were sleeping. In the Bible, sleep is not a good thing. It is a sign of spiritual carelessness and dullness. This is the condition of most of us. We are mostly asleep, unaware of what is happening: our children no longer come to Church, vocations to the priesthood are dying, divorces are on the rise, in our lives and in our families things are getting out of hand. What is wrong with that? Spiritual care is dying. We need to pray.
We must pray for ourselves and for others. Conversion and transformation must be an experience of prayer.
Sincere, true and fervent prayer is what revives and awakens our spiritual attention. Coming to church to pray is good, but each of us must develop a personal prayer life. You must find time for personal prayer within your day. We have many devotions that help us to pray. Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints. As Jesus took Peter, James and John, we too must find prayer groups or partners. It is a great help to do it with others.
While Jesus was praying, Moses and Elijah appeared to him. These two are symbols of prophecy and God’s law. In our case it is the Bible. A transforming prayer experience is fruitful when accompanied by a personal Bible reading. Do you have a Bible? How often do you read it?
We are told that Moses and Elijah appeared with him and spoke of his exodus. The mention of exodus in reference to Jesus’ imminent passion is important. It brings to mind the liberation of the children of Israel from bondage of slavery in the book of Exodus. In like manner, God through the death and resurrection of Jesus will bring salvation and freedom to all people. His passion and death becomes a source of liberation and salvation for all who believe and his resurrection is the hope for eternal life.
Lent is the period we prepare for this encounter and renewal. At Easter we once more come to terms with this saving action of Jesus for us. We do not only seek to recollect and commemorate the event, but to have a saving experience. May this lent prepare us for that moment of grace.
This passage obviously stresses the importance of prayer, since that was the reason for going up the mountain. The passage also points to something essential about prayer life: Prayer life must be accompanied with action. That is why Jesus asked the disciples to come down. Our prayer life cannot be separated from good action. We cannot come to prayer with such hatred and dislike for others. We cannot come to pray without a desire to change.
When you pray for peace, try to be peaceful. When you pray for love, try to be loving. When you pray for young people, be ready to encourage them to come to Church and help them grow in the ways of God.
May this season be for us an opportunity for renewal and prepare us adequately for the spiritual and grace filled encounter at Easter.
God bless you
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Carbonu
