Review the discussions on this same gospel reading for the second Sunday of Lent and this article
On the seventh day after Jesus reveals to his disciples how he will suffer and die, he is transfigured before three of his disciples on a mountain. There are three climactic stages in this event: first, the clothes of Jesus acquire a heavenly splendor, then Moses and Elijah appear with him, and finally, the Shekinah glory envelopes those on the mountain and God's voice is heard revealing who Jesus is: "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him."
1. The Transfiguration is a preview of the glory of the Resurrection. This preview comes after Jesus tells his disciples how they are to suffer and die with him. The event then, is not so much for Jesus, but for those who wish to follow him. The Messiah who will suffer will also achieve glory. Those who think, therefore, that Jesus' saying about suffering and death is talk for losers has a second thing coming. St. Paul would speak of this in an oft-quoted phrase: "If we have died with Him, we shall rise with Him."
- Reflect
- No Christian who has sincerely followed the Lord in this life was never without suffering. Paul refers to his own sufferings as "filling up in his body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ" a rather striking way of saying "as member of Christ's Body, I make my own through the sufferings I undergo, the sufferings of the Lord." What sufferings or difficulties have you had today that you can offer up to the Lord in union with the sacrifice of the Mass?
2. "Listen to Him." The voice that came out from the cloud was unequivocable. Mark makes sure that his audience understand this when he writes "...and they saw no one else with them except Jesus alone."
- Reflect
- Everyone chooses his/her own teacher for life. It may be a voice from the radio, or an article or book read. It may even be a significant person in one's life. Mark is underlining here the conviction that all Christians share: only Jesus is the Teacher. One characteristic of the present is relativistic pluralism: there is no longer any object of knowledge, only perspectives. When God says "Listen to Him" He actually means that we should take up the perspective of Jesus, that of the Beloved Son who is "obedient, obedient unto death." In this regard, the Church through her various activities forms the heart of the individual in such a way that he or she may be able to listen to the voice of the Lord and respond to him generously. How have you been allowing yourself to be formed by the Church in her life of faith?
3. "Rabbi, it is good for us to stay here..." Peter's comment may have been due to his confusion. But he said it after seeing Jesus joined by two great men of salvation history, Moses and Elijah. In Peter's eyes, the place where they were has become a very special place. There, past and future, the earthly and the heavenly meet.
- Reflect
- In the Mass, we find a special place where the past and future, the earthly and the heavenly meet. The Transfiguration of the Lord continues even now whenever we see His Body -- the Church -- join itself to Her Head in thanksgiving to the Father under the power of the Holy Spirit. Even now, the Law and the Prophets come alive as we discern under the Son's light, the meaning of God's word in our life. Even now, the voice says "Listen to Him" whenever the Gospel is proclaimed. Whenever you are at Mass, can you also say "Teacher, it is good for me to be here...?"
