READINGS:Genesis 15: 5-12. 17-18 / Psalm 27: 1. 7-9. 13-14 / Philippians 3: 17 – 4: 1 /  LUKE 9: 28-36

HIS WORD…  “THIS IS MY CHOSEN SON; LISTEN TO HIM…”

my words…The Second Sunday of Lent is Transfiguration Sunday. The Transfiguration event of Jesus is a glimpse of the glory of His resurrectionto be achieved through painful sufferings. For the whole of humanity, it is a reminder that at any stage of our life, we are face to face with the reality and mystery of death. That is why we need to listen to Jesus.

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus together with Peter, James, and John went up the mountain to PRAY, and the following Transfiguration event took place in their midst; 1) the face and garment of Jesus became dazzlingly white, 2) there was the appearance of Moses and Elijah, and 3) there was a voice that came through the clouds, “This is my Beloved Son; you listen to Him.”

The first event prefigures the glorious resurrection of Jesus after His death. It points to a future reality that God will glorify his body and his whole being for the pledge of a future life for the whole of the human race. It consoles the whole context of Jesus’ passion and death. The second event shows that Jesus’ paschal mystery is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises starting from the Law (Moses) down to the Prophets (Elijah). It completes everything that God has promised to His chosen people in the past. The third event indicates the divine approval or affirmation of the Father that points to the reality that this is going to be His last Journey of the mission, and that the apostles and disciples should LISTEN to the actions and decisions of Jesus on the final journey of life. In the Jordan, Jesus was acknowledged as the Beloved Son who pleases the Father; at Tabor, Jesus was still acknowledged as the Beloved Son but the Father exhorted the disciples to LISTEN to Him. Why listen to Him? What is it to be listened to in Jesus? In this final journey, everything is very clear for Jesus, that this is THE WILL OF THE FATHER. That everything that will happen after the Mt. Tabor experience is part of the divine plan of the Father. Hence, it is indeed necessary as against the will of Peter to stay, that they have to go down from the mountain to fulfill everything as planned and willed by the Father.

The whole event was to prepare the Apostles and the rest of the disciples for the scandal of the CROSS, for the reality of the sufferings that they were about to face in the City of Jerusalem. It gives them a glimpse of hope, a vision of glory, and a pledge of eternal life. It was indeed painful, and yet glorious.

Brothers and Sisters, the Transfiguration event is prayed as the Fourth Luminous Mystery of the Holy Rosary which is a reminder also of the transfigurations in our life. Our life lived up to 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80 years plus plusplus… is summarized by Jesus in 30 and 3 years. The mystery prepares us for our last journey. It gives us hope, it shows us the way, it shades us the light. The last journey of life may be painful, but it is consoling for Jesus has shown us the way of a glorious and glorified end. The Transfiguration mystery is also our preparations towards eternal life. Transfiguration is a triumph of light over darkness; a triumphof holiness over sinfulness, of hope over despair.  (By Fr. Julius C. Lupot)

LET US BE TRANSFIGURED FROM THE DARKNESS OF SIN TO THE LIGHT OF CHRIST…