2nd Sunday of Lent

My dear parishioners,

God is Good!!!  All the time!!!  And all the time!!!  God is Good!!!

In previous chapters of this book, God protected Abraham in Egypt and granted him victory in the land of Canaan. Even so, the great patriarch hesitates to put complete trust in God, especially in God’s promises to him regarding land and descendants. In this reading God gives Abraham the assurance he very much needs.

The question that has been emerging thus far in Luke’s Gospel is “Who is Jesus?” Herod wonders, and the disciples seem confused. The story of the Transfiguration addresses the question of Jesus’ identity head-on. Luke’s version of the story relies on Moses and Sinai typology connected with a tradition of a new exodus. In the background is also the tradition found in Deuteronomy 18:15–19, which promises that a prophet like Moses will speak in the name of God.

Jesus is transfigured. The actual event of the Transfiguration is stated simply and to the point. Jesus, Peter, John, and James have gone up a mountain to pray. Jesus is often depicted as being engaged in prayer before some major event in his ministry.  While he is on the mountain, Jesus becomes transfigured, and his clothing is dazzling white. That is all we are told about the event itself.

Moses and Elijah are present. Without explanation, Moses and Elijah are with Jesus, and all are engaged in conversation. Moses and Elijah symbolize the law and the prophets, respectively. Together they symbolize the fullness of divine revelation. Here that fullness is symbolized by the transfigured Jesus. Their conversation focuses on Jesus’ exodus, which symbolizes his journey to Jerusalem, where he will be crucified. The exodus tradition of Moses is also implied here in that the saving event brought about by the first exodus will be renewed as a new exodus undertaken by Jesus, the prophet like Moses. Peter cannot grasp all of this but moves in the right direction by connecting it with the feast of Booths or Tabernacles, which commemorated the wilderness journey of the chosen people from Egypt to Canaan.

This is my chosen Son. The peak of the Transfiguration story is the sacred voice that emerges from the cloud, stating in unambiguous terms who Jesus really is. Jesus is God’s chosen Son, and all are to listen to him. The result of this divine revelation is total silence. There is nothing more to say.  It will take the remainder of the Gospel to comprehend fully the meaning of this divine revelation. The end of the story has been revealed, but the end has not yet arrived.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved

 Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius