The Second Sunday of Lent (Year B) brings together the account of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac and that of the account of the Transfiguration. The Binding of Isaac (the Aqedah), is for the Jew a source of blessings from God who recognizes Abraham's obedience and total trust. The account of the Transfiguration of Jesus in Mark highlights the new role that Jesus has as "The Son, The Beloved."
- "Six days later..."
- The reference point is the day of Peter's confession regarding Jesus as the Anointed of God (cf. Mark 8:27-30). That was also the moment when Jesus started to talk about his suffering, death and resurrection.
- Elijah and Moses
- Ordinarily, commentaries will point to Elijah and Moses as the representatives of the Prophets and the Law, respectively. But it should also be pointed out that both Moses and Elijah were believed to return in the last days. Moses was said to have died at Mt. Nebo, but accounts also say that his burial place is unknown lending to a legend that he never died. Elijah was taken up by a heavenly chariot and was never seen afterwards. He was thought to be "the prophet like Moses" and would return to herald the Day of the Lord's Judgment. Finally, it must be noted that during their lifetimes, both Moses and Elijah suffered in their ministry: Moses because of the constant bickering of Israel in the desert, and Elijah because of the persecution under the Baalistic regime of Achab and Jezebel (1 Kgs. 19ff).
- "Let us make tents..."
- Jews made tents to commemorate the wandering in the desert. There is another allussion to the memory of the forty years sojourn in the desert in this account: the Cloud of Presence. The request of Peter is a request to stay in the shadow of the great figures of Israelite salvation history. The comment that it was good for them to stay there is attributed by Mark to the confusion of Peter: "he did know what to say." It was also incompatible with the memory of the wandering in the desert since the Israelites were in the desert not to stay there but to move on to the Promised Land.
- And a cloud came, overshadowing them
- The cloud of God's presence that led the Israelites in the desert envelop them. It used to cover the Tent of Meeting which only Moses can enter. From the cloud, the voice that was heard before at Jesus' baptism makes an announcement: "This is My Son, My Beloved. Listen to Him." The disappearance of Moses and Elijah after this announcement indicates that from that moment on, Jesus is taking the role that Israel recognized in Moses and Elijah. "Listen to Him" is a command to recognize in Jesus the voice of the God of Israel
- "... they discussed what 'rising from the dead' could mean..."
- The disciples could not understand the phrase although it was already mentioned before (Mark 8:31). The hardness of heart that Jesus already recognized in them is still operative (Mark 7:17-18). They will however begin to understand what this means after the Resurrection itself.
Points for discussion
1. Why do you think that the Transfiguration account from Mark alludes to the wandering in the desert? What significance did the Wandering in the Desert have for the Israelites?
2. Peter says "It is wonderful for us to be here." If you were also there, would you say the same thing? Why? Explain your answer.
3. "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to Him", said the voice from the cloud. What practical consequences does this command have for you as a Christian?
