Second Sunday of Lent (C)

March 17, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18 

Psalm: 27

Second Reading: Philippians 3: 20 - 4: 1

Gospel reading according to Luke 9: 28b-36

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Homily: The Transfiguration of Jesus

Very often when Jesus prayed for very important things and decisions to make, he went alone either in the desert or on the mountain to ask God for enlightenment and answers to his prayers, and very seldom he brought with him his disciples to pray.  This time, a very crucial time, Jesus brought Peter, James and John to accompany him on the mountain to pray.  “Jesus took Peter, James and John and went up the mountain to pray” (Lk. 9: 28b).  By this time of very urgent and crucial moment of his life, he brought with him not one or two but three of his chosen Apostles and leaders of his group on Mount Tabor to pray with him and he for them, to his coming crucifixion and death in Jerusalem.  Jesus wanted that these three selected leaders of his apostolic group be strong enough when the time comes he has to leave them, when they realize the importance of this event.   

When he was praying, something “na kagila-gilalas,” something astonishing and wonderful things happened. “While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white” (Lk. 9: 29).  His face, actually his whole body, his humanity and divinity, was so brilliant, “nagni-ningning sa kadakilaan” and changed in appearance (transfigured), he revealed his own self as Son of God and of Man in his majesty and honor and power and glory.  Even his clothes turned into glittering “nakakasilaw” white which no bleach can make and compare its brightness and whiteness.  As what Ephraem the Syrian said about the summary of the theology of Incarnation, “In the divinity and the humanity which were hypostatically united, in the humanity which He used in both a human and divine way, in domination and subjection, in fact and in action, the Son of God made is one person without division.”  

While Jesus was in this bewildering and mystifying appearance and in prayer, two great men of Old Testament appeared – Moses, the Lawgiver and Elijah, the greatest prophet among all the prophets.  “And behold, two men were conversing him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem” (Lk. 9: 30-31).  Their coming to him was to disclose to him the fulfillment of the promised of prophecy of old in him and what will happen to the forthcoming event in his life and death in Jerusalem to accomplish this promise.

This apparition of Moses and Elijah and the dazzling appearances of Jesus made Peter, James and John to rise up “na alimpungatan” from their slumber and overwhelmed of what they were witnessing.   “Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully aware, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him” (Lk. 9: 32).  Peter and his companions, James and John, saw the new appearances of Jesus, his glowing face and body and his dazzling white clothes, as well as the two great men from the past standing with him – Moses and Elijah, talking face to face to each other. 

Overcame his thoughts but still confused to what was happening, Peter proposed to Jesus that it is better to stay and remain on the top of the mountain, by suggesting to build tents, a sign of permanency, when the two great men of old were about to leave Jesus and the mountaintop.   “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” (Lk. 9: 33). As if Peter was in trance saying to Jesus, Moses and Elijah to stay and remain there on the top of the mountain forever and never mind the promise to be fulfilled, for he did not know what to say or to do to what he was amazingly witnessing.  Peter did not know what he was saying or suggesting.  His mind is not of God but of man.

It was natural to Peter to act aggressively and to talk immediately without thinking; he was always rejoining abruptly, as in “padalus-dalos.”   “While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud” (Lk. 9: 34).  While Peter was still talking to Jesus, Moses and Elijah, the cloud, symbolizing the presence of God, came down and covered them, and the disciples were frightened and terrified when they entered the cloud.  Suddenly, the voice of God was heard, speaking to them. “Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my chosen Son; listen to him’.” (Lk. 9: 35).  God repeated what He said after Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan, “This is my chosen Son,” but this time with emphasis on a command, “listen to him.”  They must listen to Jesus in all that he will say and in all that he will command.

When the voice stopped speaking, and the cloud went up to heaven, and the two great men in the past were gone and only Jesus was left behind, a total silence reigned; a deafening silence held sway in that place on the top of the Mountain Tabor.  “After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.  They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen” (Lk. 9: 36). The disciples kept to themselves what had happened and what they had witnessed on the mountaintop until the Son of God was raised up to heaven (after his passion, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven), as fulfillment of the promises of God the Father after the fall of wo/man that He will save his beloved people from their sins out of his love, mercy and compassion to us, his adopted children.