Lent II B

"Transfiguration" Alexandre Ivanov

2^nd Sunday of Lent B

Readings: Genesis 22:1-2,9,10-13,15-18  Romans 8:31-34 

 Mark 9:2-10

As we continue our Lenten journey toward Jesus’ cross and death, today’s readings give us a glimpse of Jesus’ life-giving resurrection.  On the often dark and frightening road to the cross, we are called to walk in trust like Abraham in the first reading, so we can pray in the words of the responsorial psalm: “I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living” (Psalm 116).

Abraham’s journey to offer his beloved Isaac in sacrifice is the ultimate Biblical example of a test of faith.  Isaac is Abraham’s only hope that God will fulfill his promise of abundant descendants and blessing for the families of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).  In the previous chapter, Abraham was forced by Sarah and God to dismiss his oldest son Ishmael and his mother Hagar.  Now God commands that he sacrifice Isaac, his only remaining son, for whom he had waited twenty-five years (see Genesis 12-21).

Although the narrator never gives us Abraham’s thoughts during the journey, his actions and words indicate that he both loves Isaac and trusts in God’s providence.  When the burdens are divided for the walk to Mount Moriah, Abraham takes the dangerous fire and knife and gently places the harmless wood on Isaac’s shoulders.  And, when Isaac asks his father, “Where is the sheep for the holocaust?” Abraham replies, “God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust” (Gen 22:7-8).

For the Christian reader, the story’s conclusion foreshadows Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Renewed life and blessing come to the obedient Abraham.  Isaac is restored to his father, who trusted to the point of raising the knife over his son.  And, after the ram has been offered in placed of the redeemed Isaac, the Lord’s messenger repeats the promise of blessing. “I swear by myself,” declares the Lord, “that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore.”

The second reading from Romans joyfully celebrates the consequences of Jesus’ cross and resurrection.  According to Paul’s theology, even the Law of Moses was not able to overcome the power of Sin and Death that had enslaved humanity (see Romans 7).  But now in Christ, God has mercifully justified the whole human family by accepting the obedient act of his death as atonement for the sins of all.  By his resurrection, Jesus, the obedient Son of God, has triumphed over Death and now is at God’s right hand to make intercession for us.  Because of Jesus’ victory, Paul has unlimited confidence that no cosmic power can separate the redeemed community from the love of Christ.

The Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent is always the account of Jesus’ transfiguration.  Mark’s version is an anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection and comes at a strategic point in his narrative.  Jesus has just taught his disciples for the first time that he is destined to “suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.”  When Peter refuses to accept a suffering mission for the Messiah, Jesus reprimands him as “Satan” and teaches the disciples, “whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:27-38).  Then he takes Peter, James and John and leads them to a high mountain where he is transfigured before their eyes into his anticipated resurrection glory.  His clothes become dazzling white, “whiter than the work of any bleacher could make them.”  Elijah and Moses, representatives of the prophets and the law-- who had mysterious departures from this world and were expected to return at the end time-- appear and are in conversation with him.  Sadly, Peter again fails to understand and proposes to build three booths to honor them all equally.  God’s heavenly voice corrects Peter by announcing: “This is my Son, my beloved.  Listen to him.”  When the revelation is finished, the disciples see only Jesus, who enjoins them not to announce what they have seen before the Son of Man has risen.  The Church’s Lenten observance is faithful to Mark’s understanding of Jesus.  If we want to share in the triumph of Jesus’ resurrection, we must follow him in trust, down from the mountain and on to Jerusalem and the cross.