Enkindle in Them the Fire of Your Love: 2nd Sunday of Lent (C)

Liturgical readings

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17--4:1
Luke 9:28b-36

"This My Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him."

After the gospel narrative last Sunday on the temptation of Jesus, we now go to the ninth chapter of Luke - where the narrative of Christ's Transfiguration is found. Luke tells his story: Jesus takes three apostles with Him up onto a mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying, His face and clothes became dazzlingly white. The three apostles were awakened and saw His divine glory (including Moses and Elijah who were talking with Him). As a cloud came and overshadowed them, they grew fearful. A voice came from the cloud which said, "This is My Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him."

In one of his sermons, Pope St. Leo (d. ca. 461 A.D.) said that one reason for the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain was to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of His apostles and to strengthen their faith by giving them a glimpse of His future glory. Christ's body is like the rest of us, but He makes it shine with splendor. If Christ's body shone like the sun in glory, then we too will share in this glory if we are steadfast in our faith in Him. Though we suffer in the present time, our suffering will be nothing compared to the glory we will share with God.

It has been 12 days since the start of the Lenten season. Soon the scandal of Christ's Cross will become more prominent in the readings. If in Ordinary Time we have been very busy and active in our work, then Lent is a time to listen well to Jesus and His Word. The Father emphasizes this very much: "This is My Son. Listen to Him." To obey God's will, it presupposes that we dispose our minds and hearts for listening. How well do I listen to God's Word in my daily living? Do I spend time to quiet down, keep still, and meditate on the mysteries of my Christian faith? What should I sacrifice so that I can be more attuned to the presence of God within and around me?