SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

transfiguration-on-the-mountain

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS

During the transfiguration of the Lord, Peter, James, and John were so captivated by this passing vision of seeing Jesus together with Moses and Elijah. They were filled with awe and wonder upon witnessing Jesus in his dazzling appearance. The experience must have been super that Peter himself wanted to prolong the experience, “Rabbi it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But they have to come down from this mountain and face the reality of life. They have to go of this mountain experience and live with the challenges of normal life, seldom blessed with extraordinary visions.

The transfiguration of Christ reminisced this second Sunday of Lent offers the three disciples a glimpse of Christ’s glory, a preview of his resurrection, but it had to be achieved with the greatest of pain– through the suffering and death of their Master.

Strictly speaking, Jesus didn’t have to go through the pain of suffering. He could have redeemed mankind without shedding a single drop of blood. It’s a mystery. But behind the mystery is an important message: you cannot achieve glory without the cross; you can get something for nothing. Thus, a Christian without the cross is a contradiction in terms.

Like the apostles, we have to go down the mountain and face the hard realities of Christian lives. We cannot live forever on top of the mountain and build a tent of security but we are to get out of our comfort zones. And this is precisely the message of the transfiguration of Jesus. There can never be an Easter Sunday without a Good Friday!

More posts about:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fray Onz Antonio, OAR

Fray Onz Antonio, OAR

Priest/Religious of the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno.