2nd Sunday of Lent A

Transfiguration. Donald Jackson with contributions from Aidan Hart.

 2^nd Sunday of Lent A 

Readings: Genesis 12:1‑4  2 Timothy 1:8‑10  Matthew 17:1‑9

            In this Sunday's readings God calls us to journey in trust that his promises of blessing will be fulfilled in Jesus, who by his death and resurrection "has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the gospel" (2 Tim 1:10).  Let us embrace our Lenten penance, as we sing the refrain for this week's responsorial psalm: "Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you" (Ps 33).

            In the Old Testament reading, Abram's obedient trust stands in sharp contrast to Adam and Eve in last Sunday's first reading.   Rather than obediently trusting God's command to not eat of the tree of knowledge, Adam and Eve grasped at godlike power for the sake of sensual, aesthetic, and intellectual fulfillment.  With the call of Abram, God begins again with one man to try to restore blessing to a curse ridden human family.  God commands Abram to abandon land, family, and home and to journey to an unknown land that he will show him.  A series of promises, offering hope for a new future, accompanies the call.  The Lord promises to make Abram a great nation; he will be blessed; his name will be so great that it will be a blessing; and all the families of the earth will find blessing in him.  Despite his advanced age and Sarai's barrenness, Abram in obedient trust departs "as the Lord directed him."

            In the second reading Timothy is being asked to bear his "share of the hardship which the gospel entails" by preaching the gospel without fear and protecting it from false teaching.  The reason Timothy may confidently undertake this task is the very gospel itself which Paul states in a summary fashion.  Christians are saved from the power of evil and called to live holy lives, not by any merit of their own, but because of what God has done for them in Christ. In the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, God has defeated sin and "robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the gospel."

            On the second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading is always the story of Jesus' transfiguration.  Early in our Lenten journey on the path of the suffering Jesus, we‑‑ like Peter, James, and John‑‑ are given a vision of Jesus' glory as God's beloved Son which will not be fully revealed until his resurrection.  In the previous chapter, after Peter confesses Jesus as "the Messiah, the Son of the living God," Jesus goes on to speak of his destiny to go to Jerusalem to suffer, be killed and on the third day be raised.   When Peter rebukes Jesus over the idea of his suffering, Jesus harshly condemns him as a "Satan" and warns of the need for his followers to take up their crosses and follow him.  In this frightening context, God's transfiguration of Jesus and the command to listen to his words takes on an added importance.

            In Matthew's account of the transfiguration God reveals Jesus as his final word, the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets.  The event occurs on a high mountain, a place of revelation for Matthew (Matthew 5‑7; 28:16‑20; see Exodus 19‑40).   The radiance of Jesus' face and garments is reminiscent of Moses' transfiguration on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34) and indicates that now Jesus manifests the divine presence.  At the sudden appearance of Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus, Peter proposes to build three booths honoring them equally.  With that a bright cloud overshadows them and commands: "This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests.  Listen to him."  As at the baptism scene (Matt 3:17), God's heavenly voice had revealed Jesus as the fullness of revelation in completion of the Law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah).  Now, when the disciples hear the divine voice, they prostrate on the ground in fear.  But the scene ends with tender reassurance.  Jesus comes forward and lays his hand on them with a healing gesture (8:3,15;  9:25,29) and commands: "Get up!  Do not be afraid."   Having been given a reassuring preview of Jesus' glorious destiny, they resume their journey with Jesus to his death in Jerusalem.  As they descend the mountain, Jesus commands them: "Do not tell anyone of the vision until the Son of Man rises from the dead."   The only path to that glory is through the suffering and death which Jesus must endure.