Second Sunday of Lent
Genesis 12:1-4a, 2 Timothy 1:8b-10, Matthew 17:1-9
Dear sisters and brothers,
Every Lent the Transfiguration is given to us as a sign that we are invited to be changed, transformed and transfigured. Perhaps too often we look at the transfiguration as something that happened only to Jesus, forgetting that our Lord Himself invites all of us to be changed, transformed and transfigured in the same way, allowing the divine to shine forth through us.
The Book of Genesis in today’s first reading is very clear: God has promised to each of us as children of Abraham that He will be with us. We have a covenant with God Himself and He will never abandon us. The more we believe this promise and rely on it and live because of it, the more transfigured we become.
The Second Letter to Timothy is equally strong insisting as it does that Jesus calls us to a life of holiness and that Jesus has destroyed death and brought life for all of us.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Matthew 17:1–2
What a fascinating line above: “white as light.” How white is something that is “white as light?”
On this the second week of Lent, we are given the hopeful image of Jesus being transfigured before the eyes of Peter, James and John. They witness a small glimpse of His eternal glory and radiance as the Son of God and the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. They are stunned, in awe, amazed and filled with the greatest joy. Jesus’ face shines like the sun and His clothing is so white, so pure, so radiant that they shine as the brightest and most pure light imaginable.
Why did this happen? Why did Jesus do this and why did He permit these three Apostles to see this glorious event? And to ponder further, why do we reflect upon this scene in the beginning of Lent?
Simply put, Lent is a time to examine our lives and to see our sins most clearly. It’s a time we are given each year to pause from the confusion of life and to reexamine the road we are on. Looking at our sins can be hard. It can be depressing and can tempt us to depression, hopelessness and even despair. But the temptation to despair must be overcome. And it is not overcome by ignoring our sin, rather, it is overcome by turning our eyes to the power and glory of God.
The Transfiguration is an event given to these three Apostles to give them hope as they prepare to face the suffering and death of Jesus. They are given this glimpse of glory and hope as they prepare to see Jesus embrace their sins and endure the consequences.
If we face sin without hope, we are doomed. But if we face sin (our sin) with a remembrance of Who Jesus is and what He has done for us, then facing our sin will lead us not into despair but into victory and glory.
As the Apostles looked on and saw Jesus transfigured, they heard a voice from Heaven say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Mt. 17:5b). The Father spoke this of Jesus, but He also desires to speak it of each one of us. We need to see in the Transfiguration the end and goal of our lives. We need to know, with the deepest conviction, that the Father desires to transform us into the whitest light, lifting all sin, and bestowing upon us the great dignity of being a true son or daughter of Him.
Reflect, today, upon your sin. But do so as you also reflect upon the transfigured and glorious nature of our divine Lord. He came to bestow this gift of holiness on each one of us. This is our calling. This is our dignity. This is who we must become, and the only way to do so is to allow God to cleanse us of every sin in our lives and to draw us into His glorious life of grace.
Lent is a wonderful time to return to the Lord with all our hearts, our souls and all our strength. May our Lord Jesus transform us and all who wait for his coming.
Peace and all good!
Fr. Valery Burusu
Parochial Administrator