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February 23, 2024“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
The Transfiguration is always the Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain, and the Lord begins to shine like the sun. Elijah and Moses also appear, and they are speaking with Jesus about what is to come soon in Jerusalem. They are talking about Jesus’ death and resurrection. The “entire” Holy Trinity is present. The Gospel has already said Jesus was there. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them (the Holy Spirit), and the Father speaks: “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.”
This event is an important manifestation in the life of Christ. Jesus is shining so brightly that the apostles cannot even look at him. He is God and, as the Old Testament reminds us many times, no one can see the face of God and live. But since God became a man, it is possible to see God face to face, and not die. This is the Beatific Vision of Heaven.
The greatest of the holy men of Israel are present; Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. Jesus, and his saving work, is the fulfillment of everything that Israel ever did. The three men are discussing the redemption Jesus will win for us.
And then, on the way down the mountain, Jesus tells the three apostles not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead. They questioned among themselves what rising from the dead even meant. They would realize the answer on Easter Sunday.
The Father advises us to “listen to him.” If we do, at the Last Judgment, our bodies will be gloriously resurrected and they will shine like the sun when reunited with our glorified souls. The whole paschal mystery and eschatology is reflected in the Transfiguration! Our bodies will rise according to the pattern of his earthly body, says St. Paul.
This is why we always proclaim the Gospel of the Transfiguration on the second Sunday of Lent.
Fr. Brett Brannen
Pastor
