Second Sunday in Lent -Even year

 

 # The Transfiguration is an episode in the life of Jesus Christ recounted in the New Testament. It involves a change in Jesus’ bodily appearance for a few moments during his earthly life, in order to reveal his divine nature to three disciples. This physical state, considered miraculous, is reported in the three synoptic Gospels : (Mt 17 , 1-9, Mk 9, 2-9, Lk 9, 28-36). According to Christianity, it is a prefiguration of the bodily state announced to believers for their own resurrection. The traditional site of the Transfiguration is Mount Tabor, near Lake  #.

Some exegetes place the event on Mount Hermon, since the Gospel episodes that frame it are set in this region. For the Maronites, the Transfiguration took place in the region of Bcharré, on Mount Lebanon. For the Catholic Church, the immediate purpose of the Transfiguration was to prepare the hearts of the disciples to overcome the scandal of the cross. The transfiguration is also an announcement of the « marvellous adoption » that will make all believers sons of God. The Orthodox Church also celebrates the Transfiguration. In the Church of Ethiopia, the feast is called Buhe.

 # The place of the Transfiguration is Mount Tabor, near Lake Tiberias. It was chosen in Byzantine times because of its proximity to Nazareth and Lake Tiberias. Some exegetes place the event on Mount Hermon, since the Gospel episodes that frame it are set in this region.  For the Maronites, the Transfiguration took place in the region of Bcharré, on Mount Lebanon. The mountain of the Transfiguration refers to Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai, two symbolic places in the Old Testament, due to the presence of Moses and Elijah alongside Christ, whose missions are linked to them.

The cloud from which the Father’s voice comes echoes the cloud that enveloped the Hebrews during the Exodus and their crossing of the desert. According to some observers, Saint Peter’s proposal to erect three tents also refers to the tent of meeting in the Old Testament. This transfiguration is also an announcement of the « marvellous adoption » that will make all believers sons of God. His Transfiguration is not an anticipation of the Resurrection – in which his body will be transformed to God – but rather the presence of the Triune God and the whole of salvation history in his predestined body on the cross. »

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark

At that time Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them. His clothes became radiant, of such whiteness that no one on earth can obtain such whiteness. Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they both spoke with Jesus. Then Peter spoke up and said to Jesus: « Rabbi, it is good that we are here ! Let’s put up three tents: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. In fact, Peter did not know what to say, so great was their fear. A cloud came and overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, « This is my beloved Son; listen to him ! Suddenly, looking round, they saw nothing but Jesus aloïne with them.

Whom they had seen before the Son of Man had risen from the dead. And they held fast to this word, wondering among themselves what was meant by « rising from the dead ». When someone smiles at us, their face changes. It’s wonderful to see ! How can we not love making others smile ? A sense of complicity is created, a free and true communion that gives us a glimpse of happiness. Jesus was transfigured and the followers, Peter, James and John saw Jesus : his inner light, his infinite love, never ceased to flow from his heart.

His body was radiant with it. Jesus, on the mountain, was not illuminated from the outside by a light; it was he, in his body, who was Light. What was this light? It was the very mystery of Jesu Elijah and Moses appeared in the light. Were they there to confirm to the apostles the person and work of Jesus? The extraordinary light of Christ and the presence of the greatest figures in the history of Israel gave the disciples prodigious joy. We can understand Peter’s exclamation : « Rabbi, it is good that we are here ». They wanted to build three tents, and were overjoyed to see God’s plan come to fruition. (Mk 9, 5)

The transfiguration of the Lord is part of the Good News. When love reigns, it transfigures people. Love drawn from God blooms and stimulates. On the other hand, without love or overrun by passion, people quickly become dominated by jealousy, greed and chronic dissatisfaction. Passion hardens, blinds and blurs the gaze. A gaze that becomes hurtful and humiliating, a gaze that destroys ! Marc noted : « That he did not know what to say, so great was their fright ». Happiness or fear ? Faced with the mystery of God, there are these two feelings. The joy of understanding, the joy of discovering, the joy of receiving what lies at the heart of the mystery of God. But fear remains. Peter didn’t understand much about this extraordinary moment; he was a witness who wasn’t making anything up.

He later wrote : « These are not made-up fables. we saw him in all his glory when we saw him on the holy mountain, we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain : This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased ». This is the heart of Jesus’ personality, this is the reason for the irradiation of all of himself, the source of life in his being : Jesus is loved by his Father, he is his Son, his beloved. The Transfiguration ended with a recommendation : say nothing before the Resurrection.

In this way, Jesus announced that the love that unites him to his Father will only be truly heard and understood when the cross has been seen. Then everyone will be able to hear, listen to and receive the eternal mystery of God’s love for all mankind. Note We know almost nothing about the life of the apostle Peter from the time of the Council of Jerusalem in 49 AD (see Acts of the Apostles, chapter 15) until the time when he wrote this letter from Rome, around 64 AD, shortly before his death.

Deacon Michel Houyoux

Links to other Christian websites

◊ Father Hanly : click here to read the paper → Homily for 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B

 ◊ Association of Catholics Priest : click here to read the paper → 2nd Sunday, Year B

◊ Young Catholics : click here to read the paper → 2nd Sunday of Lent Year B

Video  Transfiguration of Jesus : click here to watch the video → https://youtu.be/J-LMAP1P7D0