Second Sunday of Lent
To All the Lenten Pilgrims of Hope of the Epiphany of the Lord
The Transfiguration: The Glory of Love
The Second Sunday of Lent, Luke 9:28b-36, (16 March, 2025)
On this Second Sunday of Lent, the liturgy leads us to contemplate the event of the Transfiguration in which Jesus allows the disciples Peter, James and John a foretaste of the glory of the Resurrection: a glimpse of heaven on earth. Luke the Evangelist (9:28-36) reveals to us Jesus transfigured on the mountain, which is the place of light, a fascinating symbol of the unique experience reserved to the three disciples.
Therefore, the Transfiguration of Christ shows us the Christian perspective of suffering. Suffering is not sadomasochism: it is a necessary but transitory passage. The point of arrival to which we are called is luminous like the face of Christ Transfigured: in him is salvation, beatitude, light and the boundless love of God. By revealing his glory in this way, Jesus ensures that the cross, the trials, the difficulties with which we struggle, are resolved and overcome in Easter. Thus, this Lent, let us also go up the mountain with Jesus! But in what way? With prayer. Let us climb the mountain with prayer: silent prayer, heartfelt prayer, prayer that always seeks the Lord. Let us pause for some time in reflection, a little each day, let us fix our inner gaze on his countenance and let us allow his light to permeate us and shine in our life.
(Pope Francis, Angelus, 2019)
Dear parishioners, the word transfiguration comes into English from the Latin word transfiguratio, it corresponds to the Greek word metamorphosis, from meta, “change, alter, turn into” and morphe: “form, appearance”. In Greek literature, it is used to refer to events in which (i) the gods appeared in human form or (ii) men took on a divine form (as in certain mystery religions, like Mithraism). The transfiguration, since it is a transformation of the appearance of someone who is already present, must be distinguished from a mere apparition or other similar “trick” of the imagination.
The Gospel of the Second Sunday of Lent, gives us Luke’s version of the Transfiguration. During this transfiguration Jesus’ Disciples saw Him in a whole new way. For the first time they saw from the outside what He is on the inside, the glorious Son of God. And although this transfiguration portrays Jesus in glory, it still bears a striking similarity to the Agony in the Garden.
Like the Agony in the Garden which took place on a mountain, the Mount of Olives, the transfiguration also took place on a mountain, Mount Tabor. Like the Agony in the Garden, the transfiguration was witnessed by only three Disciples: Peter, James and John. And like the Agony in the Garden which took place at night, the transfiguration also took place at night. And in both instances, the Disciples fell asleep while Jesus remained awake praying.
On Mount Tabor, the three Disciples saw Jesus in a moment of ecstasy, when His divinity shone through in a way that it had never done before. At the Mount of Olives, on the other hand, they saw Jesus in a moment of agony and crisis. Then His humanity shone through in a way that it had never done before. In both events we see a striking contrast: the humanity and the divinity of Jesus. The total Jesus.
There are two sides to us. We contain both the human and the divine. There are times in life when we experience moments of ecstasy, times when everything is going well, when life is good. When we hug our friends and forgive our enemies. Sickness and death take a vacation.
On the other hand, like Jesus on the Mount of Olives, we also experience moments of agony, when life is miserable. We find fault with our friends and curse our enemies. And we lose faith. And we doubt God. At these times, remember that Jesus experienced the same highs and lows in His life. But in good times and in bad, we always find Jesus praying. He always had faith in His heavenly Father. Prayer and faith were His strength, His rock.
The Purpose of the Transfiguration Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray, and there, His appearance changes—His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear, speaking with Him. This moment is significant for several reasons:
It affirms Jesus’ divinity. The radiant glory of Christ reveals His divine nature, confirming that He is not just a great teacher or prophet, but truly the Son of God.
It connects Jesus to the Law and the Prophets. Moses, representing the Law, and Elijah, representing the Prophets, speak with Jesus, showing that all of salvation history leads to Him.
It foreshadows the Resurrection. Just as Jesus appears in glory here, He will ultimately rise in glory after His Passion.
The Call to Listen to Jesus As Peter, overwhelmed by the vision, suggests building tents, a cloud overshadows them, and the voice of the Father declares, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!”
This command — “Listen to Him”—is central to the Christian life.
We must listen to Jesus in His Word, allowing Scripture to shape our hearts.
We must listen to Jesus in prayer, opening ourselves to His guidance.
We must listen to Jesus in our daily lives, following His call to holiness and mission.
Transfiguration and Our Own Journey-Like the disciples, we are called to climb the mountain with Jesus—not just to witness His glory but to be transformed ourselves.
This transformation happens through prayer, where we encounter God.
It happens through suffering, as the path to glory always passes through the Cross.
It happens through love, as we allow Christ’s light to shine through us in our words and actions.
In Luke 9:28b-36, we witness one of the most profound moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry—the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus up the mountain, where He is transformed before them, His face radiant and His clothes dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Jesus about His coming departure (His Passion). Then, a cloud overshadows them, and the voice of the Father declares: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!”
Encountering Divine Glory-The Transfiguration is a moment of revelation—Jesus’ divine nature shines forth in a way the disciples had never seen before. This glimpse of glory strengthens them for the trials ahead, particularly the suffering and death of Christ. It reminds us that beyond the struggles of the cross lies the glory of resurrection.
We, too, have moments of clarity in our spiritual journeys, times when God’s presence feels unmistakable. These “mountaintop experiences” are gifts meant to sustain us when we descend into the valleys of life. The disciples could not stay on the mountain, just as we cannot live solely on spiritual highs. Instead, we must take these encounters and let them deepen our faith as we walk through life’s challenges.
Listening to Jesus-The Father’s command — “Listen to Him”— is as urgent for us today as it was for the disciples. The world offers many voices, but only one leads to eternal life. Do we truly listen to Jesus? Not just hearing His words, but allowing them to shape our hearts, transform our actions, and direct our lives?
In times of confusion, doubt, or fear, this passage calls us to fix our gaze on Christ. Like Peter, James, and John, we may not always understand what God is doing. But if we remain close to Jesus, if we listen to Him, we will be led into the fullness of His glory.
From Glory to Mission-After this sacred moment, the disciples return to the world below — changed, but not yet fully understanding. Their journey with Christ continues, leading to Jerusalem, the cross, and ultimately, resurrection. The Transfiguration reminds us that our own journey of faith is leading somewhere: to a fuller knowledge of God, to transformation in Christ, and to the glory of eternal life:
God our Father, may our Lenten observances
Increase our awareness of your love, so that
We may become more effective witnesses
Of your love in our lives
Fraternally,
Fr. John Peter Lazaar SAC, Pastor