SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: Genesis 12: 1-4: The call of Abraham, the father of God’s people.

II Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-10: God calls and enlightens us.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9: His face shone like the sun.

Jesus did not allow the three disciples Peter, James and John the brother of James to share their experience about the transfiguration of Jesus because it could not be understood by the people immediately. It was just incredible to grasp until after the resurrection. This charge to keep silent baffled the disciples because the scribes had always taught that Elijah was to come and proclaim the Messiah (cf. Mal: 4: 5). Even the disciples of Jesus did not understand the true meaning of the Messiahship of Jesus so they asked such question. Jesus explained them clearly and said that John the Baptist was a prophet like Elijah who was to come. The people killed him; the Messiah too was to suffer at the hands of the people. God is there to strengthen Jesus and the disciples to suffer and die for the kingdom of God.

The Transfiguration: Strengthened to Bear the Cross, Mt 17:1-13

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ is a most unusual experience, but Christ and the disciples needed unusual strength to face the future. The future held the cross for both.

Jesus had just entered the last stage of training for the disciples (Mt 16:21-28). The disciples grasp God’s plan for the world that Jesus was the Messiah to save the world through the death and not through earthly power and conquest (Mt 1:1;11:2-3;Lk 7:21-23). He was to bear the cross for the sins of the world (1Pet 2:24, Mt 16:24-28). They both needed a very special portion of strength to face what lay in front of them.

The transfiguration was God’s answer to their need. God used five things to strengthen Jesus and the disciples. The same five things are applicable to the great needs we face. God will use the same kinds of things to strengthen us.

1. Jesus was on a high mountain (v.1)

a. Time: 6 days later

b. Three witnesses

2. The strength of God’s glory (v.2)

a. His face shone as the sun

b. His clothes gleamed

3. The strength of greats prophets/saints (v.3)

a. Moses: The lawgiver

b. Elijah: The first great prophet

4. The strength of heavenly experience (v.4)

a. A taste of glory

b. A staggering request

5. The strength of God’s presence (v.5-8)

a. The cloud: The Shekinah glory was given

b. The voice of God: Proclaimed Jesus to be His Son-Listen to Him

c. The disciple’s reaction: They prostrated themselves-terrified

d. The Lord’s intercession: His closeness and presence

e. The Lord’s pre-eminence: They saw no one but Jesus

6. The strength of the resurrection (v.9-13)

a. The misconception of the Messiah

b. The misconception corrected

c. The Messiah must also suffer.

 

Thought: The message of God was, is and ever will be….This is my Son, whom I love, in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.

I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. (Jn 8: 24).

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Believing in him is absolutely essential.

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