Fix Your Eyes on the Lord in His Transfiguration for Lenten Journey Completion - Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle C

Lenten journey of 40 days leads us not only to the Calvary but beyond the Cross to the tomb of Jesus through Paschal Triduum upon its completion at the sunset of Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday). It is a long challenging journey as it is rather "the road less traveled". It is difficult because devil constantly tries to distract us with temptations from our Lenten path to various popular roads of pleasures. But these roads of devil are only for those whose gods are of gastronomical pleasures of gluttony, leading to hell (i.e. Philippians 3:19). For us, the faithful, stay on this difficult path, not derailed by devil's temptations. So, how can we make sure that we can stay on the course all the way to completion?

Think of Lent in juxtaposition to a marathon race.

Marathon course of 26.2 miles is punctuated with aid stations, where you can get water, electrolytes, and even medical care.  Five Lenten Sundays and Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) are like these aid stations so that we will not drop out of our Lenten journey. Therefore, on each Lenten Sunday and Palm Sunday, we receive something helpful to stay strong on our Lenten journey. 

On the Second Sunday of Lent, we learn to fix our eyes on the glorified body of Jesus in his transfiguration, to which our lowly bodies are to be conformed (Philippians 3:21). 

Fixing eyes on our heroic images of crossing the finish line and beyond really helps to overcome temptations to quit the race because of pain. So, as we compare our challenging Lenten journey to a marathon race, why don't we fix our eyes on the glorified risen Jesus reflected in his Transfiguration, hoping our bodies to be conformed to it, as we faithfully stay on the course? 

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The Gospel Reading of the First Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13, Cycle C) has called us to fight temptations with solid discipline, fortified with the Word and the Holy Spirit, as exemplified by Jesus. It is because our Lenten journey is quite challenging as devil constantly tries to derail us from the “road less traveled” of Lent to a winder path of pleasures, as this journey can be juxtaposed to the Israelite’s Exodus journey from Egypt to the promised land of milk and honey through 40 years of wondering in the desert (i.e. Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20).

The path that devil is attempting to pull us in from our Lenten “road less traveled” is a road to death through self-destructive pleasure of addiction. On the other hand, our Lenten path, though it is “the road less traveled”, is the sure way to life and salvation into the Kingdom of God. But, it is like the narrow gate to the Kingdom while the other popular way of pleasure is like the broad road leading to destruction that many are taking (i.e. Matthew 7:13-14). Like the narrow gate, our Lenten “road less traveled” is rather difficult to take all the way to where it leads: life and the Kingdom, we shall be rewarded with the joy in the Lord through His blessings, for He is always with us on the journey (i.e. Isaiah 58:14; cf. Deuteronomy 32:13-14; cf. John 15;11; cf. Revelation 21:1-22:6).

So, we have been on this Lenten journey. And now we are on the second punctual station on our Lenten “road less traveled”: Second Sunday of Lent.

The Gospel Reading for the Second Sunday of Lent (Luke 9:28b-36, Cycle C) is about the Transfiguration of the Lord. And you may have wondered why we read and reflect on the Transfiguration of the Lord at this early time of Lent.

In order to better understand the significance of reading and reflecting on the Transfiguration of the Lord on the Second Sunday of Lent, also known as, Transfiguration Sunday, we need to read the Transfiguration narrative in connection to the preceding Gospel narratives.

Though this is not included in the reading (lectionary), Luke 9:28a, says, “About eight days after he said this”, then, it says, “he (Jesus) took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28b).

What does “about eight days after he (Jesus) said this” (Luke 9:28a) refer to? In other words, what was Jesus saying about eight days before his Transfiguration?

To know this, we need to read Luke 9:18-27, in which Luke describes Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah of God (vv. 18-21), Jesus’ first foretelling of his death and resurrection (v. 22), and Jesus speaking what it means to be his disciples (vv. 23-27). These three events took place about eight days before the Transfiguration.

About eight days before the Transfiguration, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”(Luke 9:18) and " But who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20). And Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah of God (Luke 9:20). Then, Jesus foretold that he, the Son of Man, was bound to suffer greatly, rejected by the religious leaders, killed, and on the third day to be raised (Luke 9:22). Though it is not described in the Luke’s Gospel, both Matthew and Mark tell that Peter protested the prospect of Jesus’ death but rebuked by Jesus because he was trying to prevent Jesus from completing his mission, which includes his death and resurrection, in response to Jesus’ prediction of his death and resurrection (Matthew 16:22-23//Mark 8:32-33). Then, Jesus spoke of the condition of the discipleship, which means to be ready to offer up one’s life for him and his mission (Luke 9:23-27//Matthew 16:24-28//Mark 8:34-38).

Peter obviously could not accept the prospect that Jesus would have to be killed, upon suffering and rejection. It was because Peter was thinking only human beings do but not able to think as God does (Matthew 16:23//Mark 8:33).

Perhaps, Peter’s human thinking got stuck with the prospect of Jesus’ death, therefore, the prospect of Jesus’ resurrection was not registered in his mind. This is a typical human mind’s “attention deficit” when what we hear and see is something unexpected or unthinkable. At that time, to Peter’s limited human thinking, what is said in Isaiah 53:11-12 and in Psalm 16:10-11 was a prophecy for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Jesus could not leave Peter in such a condition of ignorance. After all, Jesus just gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven for identifying him as the Messiah, according to Matthew (Matthew 16:19). For this reason, Jesus took not only Peter but also John and, his brother, James, with him to the mountain to pray, about eight days later (Luke 9:28).

So why not just Peter or all the disciples but just these three: Peter, John, and James?

Peter was the holder of the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19). James (James the Great) was to die for Jesus and his mission first among the twelve Apostles (Acts 12:1-2). And his brother, John, was to be the one who would not be martyred until seeing the Kingdom (Luke 9:27). Therefore, these three disciples of Jesus had very special meanings among Jesus’ disciples – besides they are in the first batch of Jesus’ disciples (Luke 5:1-11). Because of this, Jesus took only these three with him also when he raised Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49–56) and when he prayed in agony on the night before his death in the Garden of Gethsemane (e.g. Luke 22:39-46).

Jesus wanted Peter, John, and James, to have a foretaste of his resurrection, which follows his death, because Peter seemed to see beyond Jesus’ foretold death.

The Transfiguration of the Lord is a prefiguration of Jesus’ resurrection, which follows his death. And Jesus hoped these three disciples of his to appreciate this so that they would deepen their meaning to be his disciples. He thought that they would remain loyal to him all the way to his death on the Cross in Jerusalem as they know that his death is the beginning of his unfolding glorification into his resurrection (i.e. John 3:13; 12:28).

By knowing what is ahead of Jesus’ public ministry journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, where he was to suffer, be rejected, and be killed, is the glory of his resurrection, it was hoped that his disciples would not be discouraged by fear of death and remain with him all the way to his Cross.

Through these Lenten Scripture readings, we also follow Jesus all the way to his death on the Cross and beyond. And we need to know where our Lenten journey is heading beyond the Cross, where, we too, die with our old sinful life, so that we can rise with renewed life, thus, completing our Lenten transformation through penance and conversion of our hearts.

God understands that our Lenten journey is difficult because it is “the road less traveled”, while another way is rather popular for its pleasurable nature. Therefore, He wants to make sure that we find meaning in embarking on this journey of Lent, without being distracted and tempted by the devil from our Lenten “road less traveled”.

So, we learn from the Gospel Reading of the First Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13, Cycle C) that we need both the Holy Spirit, which charged Jesus during these 40 days and nights of fasting, and when the devil tempted, and the Word, which he used as his “weapons” against the temptations from the devil. Now, from the Gospel Reading of the Second Sunday of Lent (Luke 9:28b-36, Cycle C), we are inspired and empowered to have a glorious prefigurative vision of Jesus’ resurrection through the glorious transfiguration of Jesus.

In his transfiguration, Jesus was with Moses and Elijah, conversing on Jesus’ exodus to be accomplished in Jerusalem, namely, his death on the Cross (Luke 9:31).

Why Moses and Elijah?

Because his death and resurrection mean the completion of his fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophecies, for which he has come to this world (i.e. Matthew 5:17) in accordance with the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Thus, the Transfiguration of the Lord in our Lenten context means we are not only fortified with the Holy Spirit and the Word but also looking forward to the glory of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, as we complete our Lenten “road less traveled” journey all the way to the Cross and from the Cross to hid tomb of Jesus, through via dolorosa, punctuated with the Stations of the Cross. Because of this glorious vision of Jesus’ resurrection, prefigured by his transfiguration, we can also stay at his tomb until his resurrection.

This is just the Second Sunday. We still have a long way to go on this Lenten “road less traveled”. Now, at least, we are empowered with the Holy Spirit and the Word to endure challenges and continue on our Lenten journey, as further inspired by the glorious vision of Jesus’ resurrection, prefigured in his transfiguration, ahead.

The Transfiguration is not an object that we are affixed to, as Peter was suggesting to Jesus to set up tents on the mountain of the transfiguration out of his ignorance (i.e. Luke 9:33). The fact that Peter and the other two disciples dozed off until Moses and Elijah appeared symbolized this ignorance (i.e. Luke 9:32). This is why Jesus did not allow them to wallow in the glory of his transfiguration, as this mountain-top experience was meant to be temporary.  They had to get up and go down on the mountain to continue their journey with Jesus to his Cross and resurrection in Jerusalem.  This is why the Father spoke through the cloud

This is my chosen Son; listen to him (Luke 9:35).

The Father in heaven commanded Peter, John, and James, to listen to Jesus, who is affirmed as His chosen Son, reminding of his anointment, because their journey with him would further continue on and would become more difficult as drawing closer to the Cross in Jerusalem.

Then, Moses and Elijah were no longer at the scene (Luke 9:36), Jesus ordered Peter, John, and James to keep this experience secret as it was meant only for these three for their respectively unique roles: the holder of the keys, the one to witness the Kingdom, and Jesus revealed it to him as written in the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse of John), and the one to give the first witness (martyrdom). Thus, the Transfiguration of the Lord was part of the Messianic Secret exclusively to Peter, John, and James – Jesus’ inner circle.

In our Lenten context, we, too, need to listen to what Jesus says, as the Father in heaven commanded to Peter, John, and James, at the completion of the Transfiguration. And what Jesus has said – his kerygma -  is found in the Scriptures. This is why we are committed to the Word daily through our Lenten Scripture reading every single day – so that we can stay strong against devil’s temptations, remaining fully awake and alert.

To make it through this difficult Lenten “road less traveled” journey all the way to the Cross and to the tomb of Jesus until his resurrection – symbolically speaking until the completion of Paschal Vigil Mass, without dozing off, we need to listen to Jesus through the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit. Of course, we also need our daily bread through the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which is, in essence, the incarnated Word (i.e. John 1, 14).

The Lenten journey is definitely worthy to complete no matter how difficult it may become, especially with temptations from devil, because, as reflected in the Second Reading (Philippians 3:17-4:1), we need to stand firm in the Lord, while listening to him, as commanded by the Father, because, as the citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, he will transform our lowly bodies to be conformed to his glorified body, which is reflected in his Transfiguration. And this is God’s promise, just as He promised Abraham his prosperity for his steadfast faithfulness to Him, as described in the First Reading (Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18).

From now on for the rest of our Lenten journey, what in you needs to be transformed to be conformed to Christ’s glorified body, reflected in his Transfiguration? In the meantime, let us fix our eyes not only on the crucified body of Jesus but also the glorified body of risen Jesus, prefigured and reflected in his Transfiguration, to which we are to be conformed! This way, we are not distracted by devil's temptations. 

May the Transfiguration of the Lord keep you strong and hopeful as you continue on with this Lenten journey of transformation through penance and conversion.