Second Sunday of Lent
Genesis 12:1–4a
Psalm 33:4–5, 18–19, 20, 22
2 Timothy 1:8b–10
Matthew 17:1–9
Three figures from Israel’s history are given to us in the texts for this Sunday: Abram, Moses and Elijah. Each of these captures an aspect of the journey of faith offered to all human beings.
Abram, whose journey of faith is the beginning of that history, is given this charge: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” He receives the promise that God will make of him a great nation, that his name will be great (eventually changed to Abraham) and that he will be a blessing, in whom all the communities of the earth will find blessing.
The Second Sunday of Lent carries us to a moment of powerful prayer in the life of Jesus and three of His disciples, Peter, James and John. The Transfiguration gives a glimpse of the glory of the Lord Jesus shining through His humanity. It opens Israel’s salvation history to all through a transformation of human nature itself.
Matthew’s version continues the theme of Jesus as the new Moses, telling us that “His face shone like the sun,” recalling how Moses’ face shone when he went into the Divine Presence in the tent of meeting on Mount Sinai. The presence of Elijah the prophet also recalls the desert and the Holy Mountain (Horeb).
Peter declares, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Such a response serves to heighten the parallel to the encounter between God and His people in the desert.
Matthew clearly has this in mind as he recounts the experience of the cloud and the voice and as he describes the response of the disciples to these divine manifestations: “a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.’ When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid.”
Matthew adds a touch and a word from Jesus that are not mentioned in the accounts of Mark or Luke. “But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’ And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.”
The encounter with Jesus in His glory in human nature is presented as a moment of revelation of Who Jesus is and a preparation for the sorrowful experience that will soon follow in the suffering and death that Jesus told them would be coming.
The call to listen to Him is spoken by the Father, Who expresses His unique love for the Son. The Son Whose glory is made manifest touches His fearful disciples and encourages them to persevere in hope of the resurrection. “And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.”
The charge to tell no one about the encounter is an emphatic command from Jesus: “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The term for “being raised” is the same word that Jesus used in telling the disciples to stand after they were prostrated in fear.
Last week reminded us of the limits of human nature that can be overcome when we experience temptation. This week, we are reminded of the destiny of glory that God intends for us. Lent calls us never to despair or to be cowed by fear, but to put our trust in God. “Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You.”