Sunday 16 March 2025 – II Sunday in Lent (year C)
This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him! (Lk 9:35)
Mass
Readings: Gen 15:5-12.17-18. 21 Ps 27
Phil 3:17- 4:1 Lk 9:28-36.
Key Verse to Meditate: And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white (Lk 9:29).
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
As we enter the second week of Lent, the Gospel
presents us with the profound mystery of the Transfiguration for our
meditation. Each year, the second Sunday of Lent offers us this transformative
event, as narrated in the Synoptic Gospels (Mt 17:1-8; Mk 9:2-8; Lk 9:28-36).
This extraordinary moment took place on Mount Tabor while Christ was deep in
prayer. The Liturgy of the Word this Sunday also extends an invitation: to
listen to God's voice and to walk in His presence. A key aspect of our Lenten
journey is cultivating the ability to hear the voice of God and to recognize
His presence in our lives.
The First Reading – The Lord’s Covenant with Abram
The first reading from the Book of Genesis describes God's covenant with Abraham in a vision. This covenant is established through the sacrificial offering of a three-year-old heifer, a female goat, a ram, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. This solemn event mirrors, in some ways, the divine manifestation at the Transfiguration. In this passage, the Lord promises Abraham that his descendants, rather than he himself, will inherit the promised land, which will extend from Egypt to Mesopotamia (Gen 15:18-21). This promise assures Abraham that his offspring will rule over these lands. However, the patriarch remains anxious, as he is still childless. Yet, God reassures him, promising a son who will become the heir. Furthermore, God reveals that Abraham’s descendants will experience four hundred years of oppression as aliens in a foreign land before ultimately receiving their inheritance.
Abram’s Faith in the Lord
In response to these divine promises, Abraham places his faith in the Lord. This is not the first instance of his trust in God’s word (Gen 12:1ff.). Once again, Abraham demonstrates his unwavering obedience and confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness. Scripture affirms: "And he believed the LORD, and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness" (Gen 15:6). This act of faith is echoed in the prayer of the Psalmist: "Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them" (Ps 32:2).
Abraham’s Dream
As the sun sets, Abraham falls into a deep and terrifying sleep, during which the Lord reveals Himself. Having cut the sacrificial animals in two and placed the halves opposite each other, Abraham witnesses a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passing between the pieces. This unusual ritual reflects an ancient custom: when two parties made a covenant, they would walk between the rows of sacrificed animals as a symbolic act, signifying that they, too, would be torn apart if they violated the agreement.
A parallel Old Testament passage that helps us understand this ritual is found in Jeremiah 34:18-19. In this context, King Zedekiah had made a covenant to free Hebrew slaves, and those who transgressed this agreement faced divine judgment: "And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts-the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the court officers, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf" (Jer 34:18-19; cf. Judg 19:11-20; 1 Sam 11:1-10; Amos 5:17b).
In the midst of this vision, the Lord assures Abraham that He will fulfil His promises, granting the land to his descendants in the fourth generation. Abraham’s act of chasing away birds of prey from the sacrificial carcasses symbolizes his role as a guardian of Israel, defending it from unclean foreign nations (cf. Lev 11:13-19; Deut 14:12-18).
The Second Reading – The Call to Imitate Christ
The theme of the Gospel is also reflected in today’s second reading. St. Paul, while warning against the enemies of the Cross, exhorts the faithful to imitate him and others who lead lives modelled after Christ. The enemies of Christ are those whose actions contradict the saving power of the Cross. In the Galatian Church, some denied the efficacy of Christ’s death, arguing that it had no real significance (Gal 2:21). According to Paul, those who indulge in sin, reject God's will, and disregard the meaning of Christ's sacrifice become adversaries of the Cross.
Paul insists that we must conform our lives to Christ's death in our daily existence; otherwise, we betray Him through our way of life. Furthermore, he identifies the enemies of Christ as those who live according to their fleshly desires. He also warns against those who boast in their so-called freedom, using it as a pretext for immoral behaviour. Instead, Paul reminds us that, as believers, our focus must not be solely on earthly matters but on our heavenly destiny. Our true citizenship is in heaven, where Christ reigns in glory. He assures us that Christ "will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself" (Phil 3:21).
The Gospel Reading: The Transfiguration of Jesus
The
event of the Transfiguration is beautifully narrated in the Synoptic Gospels (Mt
17:1-13; Mk 9:2-13; Lk 9:28-36), though Matthew and Luke add unique details to
Mark’s account. Notably, in both Luke and Matthew, the Transfiguration takes
place within the context of prayer. It is also closely linked to Peter’s
confession of Jesus as the Messiah (Lk 9:20). For Luke, being in communion with
God through prayer is the key to recognizing Jesus for who He truly is. It is
no coincidence that both Peter’s confession and the Transfiguration occur while
Jesus is at prayer. Prayer, in fact, was the foundation of Jesus’ life and
ministry: “Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with Him Peter,
John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as He was praying,
the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white” (Lk
9:28-29; cf. 5:16; 6:12; 11:1).
Understanding
the Scandal of the Cross
The
majesty of divine revelation was made manifest to the three disciples who
witnessed Jesus shining like the sun before them. This was a great theophany-a
divine revelation of Jesus’ true nature in glory. The Transfiguration was meant
to prepare these disciples to comprehend the scandal of the Cross (1 Cor 1:23;
Gal 5:11). They needed to recognize that the same Jesus who would suffer a
humiliating death on the cross was, in fact, the glorified Lord. The vision
reassured them that their Messiah was not only the suffering servant but also
the Lord of Glory. This was a crucial lesson, teaching them that Jesus’ path to
glory was through suffering, death, and resurrection.
The
Role of the Prophets Moses and Elijah
As
they stood atop Mount Tabor, Peter, James, and John were privileged to witness
the appearance of two of the greatest figures in Jewish history-Moses and
Elijah-who symbolized the Law and the Prophets. Moses, the great lawgiver, and
Elijah, the mighty prophet, represented the entire Old Testament. This moment
fulfilled what was later affirmed in Luke’s Gospel: “If they do not listen to
Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises
from the dead” (Lk 16:31). Their presence underscored that Jesus was the fulfilment
of the Law and the Prophets, the long-awaited Messiah.
Moreover,
Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus about His ‘exodus’-His upcoming suffering,
death, resurrection, and ascension in Jerusalem. This discussion foreshadowed
the path of suffering Jesus would take, reminding the disciples that His
suffering was not an obstacle to His mission but an integral part of God’s divine
plan. It was a lesson that they had yet to fully comprehend: that the Messiah’s
glory would be revealed through His suffering, not apart from it.
The
Voice from the Cloud: A Call to Listen
During
this extraordinary event, Peter, overwhelmed with awe, exclaimed, “Master, it
is good for us to be here; let us make three tents-one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah” (Lk 9:33). His words suggest that he wished to prolong the
moment, unaware of its true significance. But before Peter could finish, a
cloud overshadowed them, and they heard the voice of God: “This is my Son, my
Chosen; listen to Him!” (Lk 9:35). The command was clear-not just for Peter,
James, and John, but for all disciples throughout time: to listen to Jesus, who
is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, the incarnate Word of God. The
presence of Moses and Elijah fades, leaving Jesus alone-underscoring that He is
now the sole guide for humanity’s salvation.
The
Transformation of the Disciples
The
three chosen disciples-Peter, James, and John-were profoundly changed by what
they witnessed. As they descended the mountain, they likely began to understand
Jesus’ earlier prediction of His suffering and death. They now recognized the
deeper meaning of Peter’s confession: “You are the Messiah of God” (Lk 9:20).
No longer was He just a teacher or a prophet-He was truly the Son of God, the
Saviour of the world. Their mountain-top experience gave them not only a
glimpse of Jesus’ divine identity but also a transformation in their own
hearts, preparing them for the difficult path ahead.
The
Mountain as a Place of Encounter with God
The
choice of a mountain as the setting for the Transfiguration is deeply symbolic.
Throughout Scripture, mountains are places of divine revelation-where God
revealed His presence to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 19) and to Elijah on Mount
Horeb (1 Kgs 19). Jesus, following in this tradition, ascends the mountain to
pray. His decision to take Peter, James, and John with Him underscores His
desire to prepare them for the coming trials: His betrayal, rejection, and
crucifixion.
It
is in the moment of prayer and deep communion with God that the Transfiguration
occurs. It was an experience meant to strengthen the disciples' faith,
revealing that the suffering Messiah is also the glorious Son of God.
The
significance of the Transfiguration was not lost on the early Church. The
Second Letter of Peter references this profound event: “We ourselves heard this
voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain” (2 Pet
1:18). The early Church understood this moment as an affirmation of Jesus’
divine identity and mission.
The
Overshadowing Cloud: God’s Presence in Our Lives
During the Transfiguration, a cloud overshadowed the disciples, and they were filled with awe (Lk 9:34). This imagery recalls the Old Testament, where a cloud often signified God’s presence. In the wilderness, the Israelites were led by a pillar of cloud during the day (Ex 13:21-22), and God’s glory filled the Temple in a cloud (Ex 16:10; 19:9; 1 Kgs 8:10-11). The presence of the cloud during the Transfiguration signals that Jesus is the very presence of God among His people, the divine Word made flesh (Jn 1:14).
The Spiritual Journey: Climbing Up and Coming Down
The
Transfiguration reminds us of the two essential stages of the spiritual
journey—ascending the mountain and descending from it. Going up symbolizes our
search for God, a time of deep prayer, solitude, and encounter with the divine.
Like incense rising in worship, our prayers reach the Lord. However, the
experience of God’s glory should not make us dwell in spiritual ecstasy. Just
as Jesus and His disciples had to descend from the mountain to continue the
journey towards Jerusalem, we, too, are called to come down from the mountain
of prayer and contemplation. Our encounters with God should lead us back into
the world, transformed and prepared to share His message with others.
Reflection
Questions:
How
prepared am I to encounter God’s glory in my life?
How
deep is my prayer life? Does it lead me to recognize who Jesus truly is?
Does
my participation in the Holy Mass transform my life?
Do
I truly listen to the voice of the Son of God?
What
obstacles might prevent me from recognizing God’s presence and guidance in my
life?
Do
I walk daily in the presence of the Lord?
Does
my experience of prayer and worship transform my life and lead me to share
God’s presence with others?
This
Sunday’s readings call us to deepen our faith, just as Abraham did, by trusting
in God's promises even in uncertainty. We are also invited to open our hearts
to the Transfigured Christ, allowing His divine light to transform our lives.
As we continue our Lenten journey, may we listen attentively to God's voice,
walk in His presence, and strive to conform our lives to Christ, our Savior and
Redeemer.
May
this season of Lent deepen our patience and faith, helping us embrace God’s
ways with trust and understanding. Let us ascend the mountain in prayer, seek
the face of God, listen to His beloved Son, and then descend, ready to live and
share His glory in our daily lives - Amen.
