February 22, 2013       Daniel Daring       Daniel's previous reflections

 Second Sunday of Lent:  Transfiguration
Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28-36  

The Bible narrates touching stories about the death of Moses and Elijah. When Moses died, the one who buried him was God himself, and till now no one knows where his tomb is (Deut 34:6). The Bible says that no prophet like Moses has appeared again, with whom God talked face to face and who performed signs and wonders in Egypt to deliver the people of God from slavery (Deut 34:10-12). When the time for Elijah came to leave this world, God took him up to heaven in a chariot of fire (1 Kings 2:11). He was like a fire, performing signs and wonders and no one could ever boast to be equal with him (Sir 48:1-11). 
Both of them were great prophets; both of them were taken up to heaven, living with God. Now, the same two prophets were taking with Jesus about his departure in Jerusalem. What is the meaning of this?  

Eight days after Jesus had said all this  

What was Jesus saying to his disciples? He was talking about his Passion. He was saying that he had to go to Jerusalem, to be ridiculed, to suffer and to die on the cross. The apostles, especially Peter, were unable to accept that talk about sufferings. They wanted to see their Master as  beyond such things, to be victorious all the time. So, eight days after Jesus was talking about his Passion and death, he brought the three of them up to the high mountain. These three, Peter, James and John, were his closest disciples. There were going to become the leaders of the Church, so their witnessing was very important. He took them up the mountain and changed himself in front of them.

What are the most painful experiences in our lives? Those connected with tragedies. Why do people suffer? Is it because they live sinful lives? Then why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? We ask such questions and hardly get a satisfactory answer. “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” was the complaint of the prophet Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:13). How can the goodness of God be reconciled with the presence of violence and sufferings? A stumbling problem for many, or the scandal of the cross. The same questions were in the minds of the apostles, when they heard Jesus talking about His own sufferings. It was beyond their imagination that Jesus, who healed sicknesses and expelled demons, made people alive again, would have to suffer. Why? Jesus tried to strengthen the faith of the apostles in view of the incoming events of His death by showing them the vision of something totally different.  

There his appearance was changed before their eyes  

The reason Jesus changed himself in front of them was to show a  glimpse of his glory. Transfiguration should give them sure hope, should anchor their faith to face the coming sufferings of Jesus, their Master and Lord, whom they loved and in whom they believed. Having seeing Jesus’ tragic death, they should not give up their faith and hope. They should trust that sufferings do not have the last word.

A friend of mine said that if there would only be this life, with all its pain and suffering, then it would be unbearable. Sometimes the pains and trials are so enormous that we are in despair and ask: why does God not see that? What is he doing? Then, imagine that someone shows you your future life, beyond this world: a life with God, with your friends and family, with the ones you love; an unimaginable life, without suffering and pain, yet you saw it, just for a while and the vision ended. How would you feel about your life on this earth? Could it make any difference knowing that your suffering will end and that you will have a future in the presence of God?

St. Paul wrote: “Our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord” (Philippians 3:20). We do not live only for this world. If that could be the case how miserable it would be. This life is short and fleeting. No. We see Moses and Elijah who lived long time ago, as being alive. They are coming from a different world; they live in God’s presence. We see Jesus being transformed, showing his glory to the apostles. There is life after this one; there is another world and we journey toward it. The way to that world is the cross of Christ. Those who suffer for the sake of God, those who offer their lives for others, like Moses and Elijah, are going to be buried by God and taken up to heaven. Their sufferings are short lived. God will take them to Himself, and they will be alive in Him for ever. “He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself” (Philippians 3:21). Transfiguration gives us hope. Jesus showed the glimpse of his glory. Our faith tells us that there is life beyond this world, life that is different, and we are going to be part of it.  

Conclusion  

The message of Jesus’ transfiguration is about hope: a glimpse into a different world. In the presence of suffering we see Jesus’ glory, we see Moses and Elijah alive in God, and we hope that one day we will be with them. St. Paul writes: “So I want to teach you this mystery: although not all of us will die, all of us have to be transformed, in an instant, at the sound of the trumpet; (. . .) then in the twinkling of an eye, the dead will be raised imperishable, while we shall be transformed. For it is necessary that our mortal and perishable being put on the life that knows neither death nor decay” (1 Cor 15:51-53); “And we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess 4:17). So, go on hoping in the face of suffering; it is  short lived and when everything is over, you will be for ever with the Lord.