Christ the Cornerstone

Jesus’ transfiguration foreshadows his everlasting glory

Our Lenten journey has begun.

Last week, on Ash Wednesday, we were reminded that we have been formed from the earth and that our mortal bodies will one day return to ashes.

This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Lent, provides us with the other side of the story. Yes, we come from the earth, but we are destined to be transfigured as Jesus was and to live with him in everlasting glory.

Jesus became human so that we might become like God. Our Savior has freed us from the slavery of sin and death. He has shared with us a power that belongs to God alone: to transform our mortal and material bodies into spiritual beings that retain their earthly form even as they take on a new form—one that has been transfigured by God’s grace into something pure, holy and filled with divine life and goodness.

We are given a glimpse of our spiritual destiny in the Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent (Lk 9:28b-36):

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 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. (Lk 9:28-31)

Peter and his colleagues had been sleeping. They were awakened by the dazzling light, and they were astounded to see Jesus transfigured and standing in the company of Moses and Elijah. What the three were discussing was even more amazing than the fact that they were together on this holy mountain and bathed in the glory of God.

Jesus, Moses and Elijah spoke about the “exodus” that Jesus was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. The first Exodus was a material, earthly experience. It happened when Moses led God’s Chosen People, the Israelites, out of slavery in Egypt and brought them to the Land he had promised them.

The new Exodus that Jesus will lead out of Jerusalem is a spiritual journey, but it is no less important. In fact, its consequences are far more profound than the earthly Exodus that it recalls. Jesus is destined to lead all of God’s people (all of humanity) out of the slavery of sin and death. He is the Divine Liberator, the Holy Redeemer, who saves us from every evil and leads us into our heavenly homeland.

The first reading from the Book of Genesis (15:5-12, 17-18) speaks of the Covenant that God made with Abraham:

Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so shall your descendants be. Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. … It was on that occasion that the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.” (Gen 15:5-6, 18)

God’s promise to his holy people, the descendants of Abraham, foreshadows his promise to all humankind. The Father’s promise to send his only Son to redeem us and to lead us into everlasting glory is fulfilled in Jesus. The Transfiguration that

St. Luke describes in this Sunday’s Gospel reading is an epiphany, a revelation of God’s glory in the down-to-earth realities of daily life. It’s no wonder that Peter, James and John were overwhelmed by what they saw and heard. As always, they were slow to respond and to make sense of what they were experiencing.

Peter suggests that they erect three tents (holy markers) in recognition of the three holy men—Jesus, Moses and Elijah. But God has a different plan: While Peter 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” (Lk 9:35). After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The three Apostles fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Why did they keep silent? Why not shout to the whole world the miracle they had just witnessed? Jesus asked them to keep this miracle a secret until after his passion, death and resurrection. In other words, they remain silent until Jesus is able to accomplish the spiritual exodus that was going to take place in Jerusalem.

During this holy season of Lent, let’s remember that we are not destined for earthly glory. Our true homeland is in heaven, and if we follow in the footsteps of Jesus as faithful missionary disciples, and pilgrims of hope, we will share in his everlasting peace and joy. †