Second Sunday of Lent Gospel A

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 

· Why these three? Over the course of time they became Jesus’ inner circle. They will be invited by Jesus to go aside with him in the Garden to pray. They were the first to be chosen as disciples. Why Andrew was not included, we don’t know.

And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. 

· Put yourself in the place of the three. What do you think you would have thought or felt at this sight? What would be your initial response?

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. 

· Moses represented the Law and Elijah the prophets. Jesus had said that he would fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

· What do you think they were saying to Jesus? Probably, talking about his upcoming suffering and death.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 

· How we would want the joy of the present moment to last forever! Peter wanted to stay there and go down the mountain.

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 

· The Shekina glory of God is sometimes depicted as a bright cloud. They probably had remembrances of the time God appeared to the people at Mt Sinai in the desert.

· When did God say this about Jesus? At his baptism.

· How well do we listen to the Lord? What were they to listen to? Jesus had predicted his passion, death and resurrection and they did not want to hear of it. The Father confirms this message through the transfiguration and through his voice.

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid.

· Would you react any differently, if you thought God had revealed something to you?

But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” 

· How often this is the message Jesus has to give the disciples during or after some experience. Recall the time they saw Jesus walking on water and they thought it was a ghost. Recall his post resurrection appearances.

And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 

· The vision revealed the divinity of Jesus, which the apostles did not fully understand and would not until the resurrection. If they would not, even after this experience, how would others? Would you have?

· What lesson do you take from this passage and apply to your life?