March 01, 26 – 2nd Sunday of Lent, Transfiguration – A Pause and a Checkpoint

Daily Divine Word – March 01, 26 – 2nd Sunday of Lent

Transfiguration – A Pause and a Checkpoint

Gen 12: 1-4a, 2 Tim 1: 8-10, Matt 17: 1-9.

Abram becomes a blessing to all:

The First Reading presents to us the ‘call of Abram.’ At the time of Abram in the ancient Near East, family, land and country defined one’s identity, status and security. When God called Abram to leave his land and family, it was not a small demand. It meant leaving behind identity, safety, status and security and trusting completely in God’s promise. Call of Abram is a decisive moment in the bible. Until now, people had been moving away from God and now, God takes the initiative, calls one person Abram to commence a new journey of faith and blessing. Abram is not given plans of his mission, instead is given a promise of land, blessing, posterity and a great future. Importantly, through Abram everyone on the earth will be blessed; Abram’s journey, a leap into the unknown is not for himself; it is for others. In the context of Lent, Abram’s example invites us to leave behind what is holding us back and move towards God in trust. Like Abram, we are invited to step out of our comfort homes, our habits, attitudes, people and money. Bible tells us, ‘Abram went as the Lord told him.’ He did not ask for clarification, or dialogue for settlement. This points to the fact that obedience to God inevitably leads to blessing, not only for oneself but for everyone. My obedience to God is a blessing to others and so, is disobedience a deprivation of that blessing to others. Can we spot what is that one thing that the Lord wants us to leave behind during this Lent?

Suffering for the Gospel:

The second reading is about Paul’s letter to Timothy at a difficult time in the church community. Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing fear, threat and opposition as the leader of the Christian community. Paul encourages Timothy not be ashamed or give up but to remain faithful and courageous. Suffering for the Gospel is not meaningless instead it is a participation in the sufferings of Christ. Suffering for the gospel is a privilege that brings Christ to others.

Transfiguration – A Pause and a Checkpoint:

Jesus ascends a mountain taking three of his intimate disciples (Peter, James and John) and on the top of the mountain, he was transfigured before them (μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν). Moses and Elijah appear and converse with him. Peter offers to pitch three tents to continue to dwell there. A voice from the cloud declares, “This is my beloved son, in whom I take delight, listen to him.” What is the significance of this event? Why did Jesus go to mountain top?

Biblically, Mountain is a place of God’s encounter and personal reflection, not a place of picnic. The event of transfiguration is sandwiched between the first and the second prediction of Jesus about his own death and resurrection (Matt 16, 21-23 & 17, 22-23). At this point of Matthean narrative, Jesus had travelled far and wide, preached, connected with and confronted people of various walks of life. Rightly so, there is a possibility that Jesus was under certain predicaments - an inner desire for reconfirmation of his further journey.

Any long and purposeful journey requires a pause, refueling and an evaluation of the path and destiny. The pause is not to quit but to remain focused, energized and determined. Besides the regular interpretations, I prefer to understand the event of transfiguration as a moment of pause and a checkpoint for Jesus. He needed to check himself and proceeded confidently. Probably, Jesus went up to mountain to ask God, ‘Am I doing God’s will in setting my face to go to Jerusalem at this time?’ Jesus went up to listen the voice of God. He would take no step without consulting God. How then could he take the biggest step of all without consulting him? Of everything Jesus could have asked one question and only one question: “Is it God’s will for me?” And that is the question, he was probably battling within in the loneliness of the slopes of the mountain. The Mount of Transfiguration was for Jesus a spiritual mountain peak that once again authenticated his sonship and reiterated his mission. He was overwhelmed by the presence of God. Transfiguration becomes a source of sustenance for the rest of his journey until resurrection.

We too need a pause, checkpoints in our lives - a soul-searching exercise; where am I going? What am I doing? Am I on the right path? Are my goals and means just? It’s very normal for us to be at the crossroads of our lives; desperately longing for a direction, a confirmation, a word of affirmation. Like Jesus we ought to go to the mountain top to listen to and to be refreshed by God.

Mountains are symbols of our checkpoints, they inspire us, test our strength and expose our weaknesses. At the mountains, we are pulled out of the ordinary life and are energized to face the valleys in our lives. Lent is my mountain, my palace of encounter with God, my place of stillness and solitude.

Our Takeaway

1. My obedience to God is a blessing to others and so, my disobedience is a deprivation of that blessing to others. Can we spot what is that one thing that the Lord wants us to leave behind during this Lent?

2. Suffering for the Gospel is not meaningless instead it is a participation in the sufferings of Christ. Suffering for the gospel is a privilege that brings Christ to others.

3. Transfiguration is a moment of pause and a checkpoint for Jesus. The Mount of Transfiguration once again authenticated his sonship and reiterated his mission. Transfiguration becomes a source of sustenance for the rest of his journey until resurrection.

4. We need pause/checkpoints in our lives. Mountains are symbols of our checkpoints, they inspire us, test our strength and expose our weaknesses. At the mountains, we are pulled out of the ordinary life and are energized to face the valleys of our lives.

5. Lent is my mountain, my palace of encounter with God, my place of stillness and solitude.