Peter, James and John were chosen by the Lord to be witnesses to the Transfiguration. The three privileged disciples saw three things that day: Jesus transformed into glory, Moses and Elijah speaking with him, and the Shekinah enveloping them. They also heard the Voice from the cloud that commanded them to listen to Jesus, the Chosen One. Read the relevant article here and use the following as a guide for your reflections.
1. Luke 9:31 literally goes: "(they) spoke about the exodus that he was going to complete in Jerusalem" (see NAB). Jesus was going to complete his own exodus as the new Israel, passing through the cross to the glory of the Resurrection.
Reflect: Our Lenten journey is a participation in Jesus' exodus in His death and Resurrection. Paul tells us that our whole life is a dying to sin so that we can share in the Resurrection of life. The Lenten practises of prayer, fasting and almsgiving helps us in our journey by allowing us to focus on the goal: our new life in Christ. How has been your journey up to this point?
2. The Voice in the Cloud pointed to Jesus as the "Torah" of the New Covenant. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" he will later on say. During this season of Lent we are invited to focus on Jesus, the Word of God made flesh.
Reflect: The Scriptures is -- in Augustine's words -- the echo in many words of men of the one Word of God. How much time have you been dedicating yourself to the practise of the lectio divina during this Lenten season?
3. Jesus appeared in the glory of his resurrection. It was a preview of what will happen upon the completion of his "exodus". Peter, James and John did not understand what was meant. We are no longer like Peter, James and John who could not understand what they were seeing. And because we have been listening to the admonition of Jesus and the apostles, we do not sleep, since we are meant to be children of the light. "Awake, O Sleeper; arise from the dead and Christ shall give you light" writes St. Paul.
Reflect: Based on how you have been living your baptism, what does the Transfiguration of the Lord mean to you?
