2nd Sunday of Lent (B)

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them.

Mk 9:2-10

EXPLANATION OF THE GOSPEL

The other two accounts of the Transfiguration event may be found in Mt 17:1-9 and Lk 9:28-36.

Only Luke states that Jesus went up the mountain to pray.

Matthew and Mark says that the Transfiguration took place 6 days after the first prediction of the Passion and the instruction to the disciples about the doctrine of the cross. Luke, on the other hand, says that it took place 8 days later.

The Transfiguration event serves to counterbalance the talk of Jesus about the Passion. In fact, at the end of the episode, Jesus speaks about rising from the dead.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.

The mountain has been identified as either Mt. Hermon or Mt. Tabor.

If the encounter with Satan is in the wilderness, the encounter with God is on the mountain. Moses encountered God on Mt. Sinai (Ex 24:12-18). Elijah met God on Mt. Horeb (1Kgs 19:8-18).

And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

Bright light and white garments indicate the presence of the heavenly (angel) and the divine (God).

Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.

Elijah represents the Prophets while Moses represents the Law. The Jews referred to the Bible as “the Law and the Prophets”. Their presence suggests that Jesus fulfils the OT promises.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents.

Some commentators understand this to mean the desire of Peter to remain there on the mountain and continue enjoying this extraordinary experience.

Others, however, see in this an allusion to the Feast of Tents or Tabernacles. According to them it was widely believed that the Messiah would come during the Feast of Tabernacles. If this is so, then Jesus is being identified as the Messiah.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."

The cloud was a sign of God’s presence. In the Exodus, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting when God was there (Ex 33:9).

The voice was that of the Father. At his baptism at the Jordan, the Father also acknowledged Jesus as his beloved Son. Jesus is, therefore, divine.

As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

After the Resurrection the disciples would understand the meaning of the Transfiguration and could, therefore, talk about it correctly.

Jesus had spoken to his disciples about his impending death. His transfiguration was a preview of the Resurrection. By giving them a glimpse of the glory of the Resurrection, Jesus wanted to tell his disciples that while it was true that he was going to be put to death, it was also true that death was not going to be the end. He will rise again. And this they will only understand after Jesus had risen.

YOUR FACE IS THE WINDOW TO YOUR HEART

Many years ago a benefit show was in progress in the gym of Don Bosco Mandaluyong. Kris Aquino who was then a high school student was on stage for a song number. She invited one of the Bosconians to come up on stage and began interviewing him. Without any warning, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. I could have sworn his face glowed.

Why? What happened? Kris was the crush of teenagers then. That kiss warmed the heart of this teenager as only a crush can. Joy welled up from within. You can see it from his face.

The face indeed is the window to one’s heart.

But if a glowing face reveals the joy that is bubbling in one’s heart, what would a face without life and energy say about a person?

We would say: “You don’t look well. Are you sick?” This person might have some physical problem within.

Or we might ask: “You look sad. Is something bothering you? Do you have a problem? ” In this case, this person might have an emotional problem.

St. John Bosco used to say that sometimes you can trace an emotional prob-lem such as sadness to sin.

A mother who lost his patience with his son blurted out: “Bobo ka kasi [you’re stupid, that’s why.]” The hurt that the son feels can be traced to the sin against charity by the mother.

A couple (Peter and Esther) were good friends of Paul and Lydia (another couple). When Esther was hospitalized due to cancer, they were expecting Paul and Lydia to come and visit, even though the latter had moved to the province. But they never came. Imagine the hurt that Peter and Esther must have felt. That, of course, ended their friendship. Again the hurt can be traced to the sin against charity by Paul and Lydia.

Sometimes people hurt us either consciously or unconsciously. We keep that hurt within and nurture it through the years by keeping on replaying the event that caused us pain. And every time we replay that event, we also feel angry. And when that anger takes hold of us, we think of striking back at those who hurt us. The loss of inner peace because of the hurt and the anger can be traced to our sin against charity.

How can we restore inner peace? How can we be happy again?

They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. In our particular case, we may need to take three steps.

First, St. John Bosco recommends confession. He believes that God’s forgiveness restores peace and happiness in a person’s heart. Confession seems to lift a heavy burden form our hearts. And experience confirms this.

Second, we need to reconcile with those we have hurt. To say “I’m sorry” is difficult because we have our pride. To say “I’m sorry” is also risky because the other person may not accept our apology. But the reward of peace and happiness that comes from an apology given and accepted is worth the attempt.

And third, we need to learn to forgive ourselves. If God has forgiven us, why should we not forgive ourselves? Think about it. The purpose of guilt is to make us repent and reconcile. In other words, to set things right. Once we have repented and reconciled, guilt becomes useless baggage. Throw it away and live in peace.