March 1^st 2015.  Second Sunday of Lent

Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Translated from a homily by Don Fabio Rosini, broadcast on Vatican Radio

Don Fabio’s reflection follows the Gospel reading ...

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GOSPEL: Mark 9:2-10

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleach could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Rabbi’, he said it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

As they came down the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Kieran’s summary . . .

1. In the first reading, Abraham ascends the mountain to sacrifice his son. In the Gospel, Jesus ascends the mountain and the disciples discover that he is the divine Son that is offered to humanity.

2. By going apart with Jesus, the disciples discover his true identity. We too need to go apart with Jesus so that we can find out who he really is.

3. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus on the mountain. They represent the Old Testament, which reveals the light of Jesus’ face. We too will contemplate the light of Jesus’ face when we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures.

4. After the Fall, Adam fled from God, not realizing how wonderful it is to be with the Lord. On the mountain Peter says, “It is beautiful to be here!” Peter rediscovers that which Adam had lost. We too can discover the wonder of being with the Lord if we generously set aside time to be with him.

5. Even from the Cross, the good thief discovers that to be with Jesus is to be in Paradise. This Lent may we discover our Mount Tabor where we can spend time with Jesus and learn to appreciate his beauty, just as Abraham discovered the beauty of God on the same mountain.

In the first reading Abraham ascends the mountain to sacrifice his son. In the Gospel, the Father reveals Jesus as God on the mountain and offers him to us

The second Sunday of Lent is traditionally the Gospel of the Transfiguration. Both the first reading and the Gospel describe mountain ascents. Abraham climbs a mountain to offer his son in sacrifice to the Lord; in the Gospel, Jesus climbs a mountain with Peter, James and John, and it becomes clear that God, too, is making an offering of his son. Abraham’s experience on the mountain is dramatic and full of enigma. As a result of the experience he comes to realize that God is much different than he thought. At this period of history, the Canaanites lived in the area and they had the terrible practice of sacrificing their children to the gods. In order to maintain their control over the things they valued in their lives, they believed that they had to offer to the gods the most precious thing they possessed. Abraham is in the process of getting to know his God, and he must still discover that his God is not of the Canaanite sort. Abraham soon discovers that God does not make demands but provides, gives the very best of himself to humanity. This discovery of the real nature of God comes to completion in the person of Jesus.

In going apart with Jesus, the disciples discover who he really is. We too must go apart with Jesus in order to get to know him

The story recounted in the Gospel is of the utmost importance. The Eastern Church considers this text to be of central significance for theology and spirituality. It highlights the importance of going away to a separate place in order to discover who Jesus really is, to behold his true countenance. In the Gospel, the disciples are given this privilege for a short time: they see Jesus as the Father sees him, not only as a man but also as God. For a while they Jesus in another way, not in the sense of being different but in the sense of being complete. As St Paul says, with the eyes of faith we look at the invisible dimension of things; we look on things as God looks on them.

Abraham discovered God on the mountain and so must we. We do so through immersion in the Scriptures (symbolized by Moses and Elijah) which reveal the light of Jesus’ face

Jesus reveals himself as God on this mountain. Abraham, our father in faith, had a definitive experience of God upon a mountain. We can see things from the perspective of the plain, or with the eyes of God from the perspective of the mountain. The disciples here see Jesus as light and splendour. No laundromat on earth could produce the whiteness that shone from Jesus. No human work can shine like the work of God. One of our most tragic and wayward tendencies is our persistent belief that we can manage on our own without God. But we are made to do things along with God and our neighbour. Without God and neighbour, we are not fully authentic human beings. Along with Jesus on the mountain appear Moses and Elijah. Moses is the giver of the Law, whilst Elijah is the greatest of the prophets. These two personalities represent many things. They speak with Jesus as the disciples look on. In this way they symbolize the Scriptures, composed of the law and the Prophets and which reveal the light of Jesus’ face. The entire Old Testament is oriented towards revealing the light of this man who is not just a man.

Adam fled from God’s presence, not realizing the wonder of the Lord’s presence. This Lent, may we discover the places where we can discover how beautiful it is to be with God.

Peter is afraid and doesn’t know what to say. He comments, “It is beautiful for us to be here!” There is no doubt that the beauty of Jesus must have been immense. But Peter says something more specific: “It is beautiful for us to be here! It is beautiful to be with you and to know you!” It was beautiful for Abraham to entrust himself to God completely. It was the moment when he became a father in the fullest sense. It is beautiful to be in God’s presence. We tend to put God in a compartment where he can come to our aid whenever we need help. But it would be better for us if we were with God all the time. On the Cross Jesus tells the good thief, “Today you will be with me in Paradise”. It is beautiful to be with Jesus, even on the Cross. It is good for us to be with Jesus wherever he is. After the Fall, Adam did not want to be with the Lord. When the Lord searched for him, Adam hid himself. Peter discovered that which Adam had failed to realize: “It is beautiful to be with you, even if I am weak and incompetent. It is beautiful to be with God!” A son doesn’t have to be on the level of his father in order to feel happy in the presence of his father. A student doesn’t have to be on the level of his master in order to appreciate being in the master’s presence. A creature doesn’t have to be perfect; he merely needs to know how to be with his creator. He doesn’t have to be autonomous; he simply needs to allow himself to contemplate his maker. This Lent may we discover our places of transfiguration! May we seek out our Mount Tabors where we learn to entrust ourselves to God and abandon ourselves as Abraham did. Lent calls us to experience intimacy with God so that we can descend from the mountain in the knowledge of the beauty of God.