Second Sunday of Lent Gospel C

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 

· Jesus, in his humanity, saw the need to go aside and pray even when people were demanding more of his ministry. How much time do we set aside each day for prayer?

       • Jesus has just revealed to the twelve that the Son of Man will have to suffer and die and rise from the dead. They didn’t want to hear this.

       • To give the three an affirmation of what he said and who he was, he allows them to share in this theophany from the Father.

While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 

              In prayer Jesus is strengthened for his impending death on the cross for our salvation. When                have we been strengthened in prayer during a difficult moment of our life?

              The presence of Moses and Elijah is to remind the Apostles that Jesus is the fulfillment of the         Law and the Prophets.

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,  “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.

     Peter was caught up in the glory of the moment but made no connection with the death of             Jesus. How often we want to experience the glory and joy but not see them connected to the              journey of the cross in our life? We fail to remember what Paul tells us: there is no Easter              without Good Friday.

While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 

           The word of the Father is to direct Peter and the others back to the word of Jesus concerning              the cross. The Father who identified Jesus at his baptism as the beloved Son does so once              more, not for Jesus’ sake, but for his Apostles.

           How well do we listen to Jesus in the scriptures, in prayer, in the inspirations of the moment?

           Can we discern the voice of the Lord from other voices?

After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. 

          Have you ever had an experience so profound that you could not share it with others, because             you had not fully processed it yet?

          Reflect on the experience of the Transfiguration. What does it say to you at this point in your life?