SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Gen. 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; P116
Rom. 8:31-34; Mk 9:2-10
THE CHRISTIAN END GAME
For the second Sunday of Lent the Church presents us with Mark’s account of the Transfiguration for our meditation. (Mk 9:2-10). Jesus took three of his closest disciples and led them up the mountain. They saw Jesus changed before their eyes, his clothes were dazzling white, then Moses and Elijah appeared with him. God spoke from the clouds as they lay terrified: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” What can we make of this reading in the season of Lent?
The first lesson is that, becoming a new person and growing in our relationship with the Lord takes time. Jesus took these disciples and they journeyed up the mountain. The Church does not give us one day or one week but forty days. In the Bible, the number 40 represent a considerable amount of time. To become a better person is a lifelong commitment as is our relationship with Jesus. It can become tiresome and discouraging sometimes but we must keep our eye on the goal, that we want to reach the apex of our knowing and loving the Lord.
Secondly, lent is a time to shed the excess. It is instructive that the place of the transfiguration is up the mountain. Climbing a mountain requires that we shed off any excess clothing, food and luggage. Whatever is unnecessary and makes it difficult for us to reach the top of the mountain has to go. Anything or anyone that makes our relationship with the Lord more difficult is an excess. In this period of lent we are called to let go of any excess in our lives.
Thirdly, Jesus makes his disciples experience this event not to impress them but to strengthen and encourage them for the suffering that is to befall him and the suffering that will come their way for preaching the gospel. The strength of the Christian in times of trouble is rooted in listening to Jesus. The Latin word for listening-obedire or audire– also means “to obey”. To listen to Jesus is to obey what he says. That is where our strength comes from. To obey Jesus is to obey what His Church teaches. He told the disciples, “He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you rejects me and he who rejects me rejects He who sent me.” (Luke 10:16). When we listen and obey Jesus our end will be a glorious one.
Fourthly, the transfiguration of Jesus was a preview of their own transfiguration. It was a pointer to what they will become. It is also a pointer to what we will become when we embrace the suffering, persecution and pain that comes from proclaiming the gospel to the world.
Throughout history the people of the world and its leaders seem to support the Church only when her preaching of the gospel does not conflict with their evil actions. But we are all called to proclaim the gospel and denounce sin. For this reason, there is always animosity and antagonism towards the Church and many saints have been martyred for speaking and preaching the gospel. In moments like this we must keep our eyes on the end game and not the present suffering. Let us remember what Paul says, “…if we have died with him, we shall also live with him, if we persevere, we shall also reign with him…” (2Tim 2:11-12). The point of the transfiguration is simple: the Christian life ends in a win.
During the transfiguration of our Lord, the disciples were terrified at what they saw and from hearing the voice of the Father. Many times when we hear the Father’s voice calling us to suffer for the gospel, we are afraid because we know that it is also a call for us to change. Sometimes we are afraid of the persecution. We are afraid of what our friends will say or how they will see us. We are afraid of their name calling. How much are some of us afraid to speak against the pressure on Ghana to legalize LGBTQ activities in Ghana?
In such moments of fear, persecution and discouragement may we never forget our prospect of transfiguration. May we never forget that the Lord is always with us. May the strength of all the saints assist us.
Let us now listen to the testimonies of the three disciples about their experience of the transfiguration:
Peter said,
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2 Pt 1:16-18)
James said,
“Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (Jm 1:12)
John said,
“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life; this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us, we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (1 Jn 1:1-4).
May these words strengthen us.
Amen.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
