Last weekend, the first Sunday of Lent, our first reading from the Book of Genesis told us of the downfall of mankind. The great sin of Adam & Eve, which resulted in their exile from the earthly paradise. Their punishment was handed down to all of mankind with the deprivation of the grace and communion with God.

     In today’s first reading we begin to see a change when God calls Abraham. Mankind then had a new covenant which would eventually lead to a glorious reunion with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     Abraham, who believes and obeys the voice of God by leaving his people and his land and going to a new and unknown world is a symbol of the calling of all Christians to follow Christ into the next world, of heaven. We too have been called by God. He continually calls us even when we have strayed away from him because of sin. As in Abraham’s call, so too with us, all depends on our response to God’s voice. All who answer wholeheartedly are well on the road to salvation. 

     In today’s Gospel we hear of Jesus’ transfiguration. This event is told in all three of the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark & Luke. The transfiguration bears witness to an inner circle among the twelve Apostles Peter, James, and John. Jesus, later, singles them out again when he invites them to pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane at the start of his Passion. But here Jesus takes them up a mountain; the kind of place viewed as especially suitable for divine revelation in the Old Testament. What these three Apostles saw and heard on the mountain would have reminded them of what happened to Moses on Mount Sanai. There are many parallels between the two mountain scenes, but mainly that Jesus comes as a new Moses to deliver God’s people. But the Gospels emphasize that, in Jesus, something much greater is happening. Whereas Moses received divine revelation at Mt. Sanai; here, Jesus himself is revealed by God to the three Apostles. The scene underscores that Jesus is no mere human mediator like Moses, but that he is the Son of God. He appears not with a reflected glory like the face of Moses after speaking with God, but Jesus shines with a glory all his own.

     One of the more important aspects of the Transfiguration account is the presence of God’s voice. It’s one of only two times in the Gospels that we hear God’s voice directly. The first time was at Jesus’ baptism. On both occasions God identifies Jesus as his beloved Son, also adding, “With whom I am well pleased”. At the transfiguration, which we hear today, God then adds, “Listen to him”.  It sounds so simple; “Listen to him”. But as we know, Peter himself, who witnessed Jesus’ Transfiguration, later denies Jesus three times. It’s, not easy, but of course we want to listen to Jesus. We wouldn’t be sitting here today, and week after week, if we didn’t want to listen to Jesus; if we didn’t want to please God and follow where he leads us. If God wants us to listen to his Son, it must mean that Jesus, in some way or another is speaking to us; and not just through the Holy Scripture that we come here to listen to on Sundays. Lent is a special time for us to pray, and to reflect, and to listen for Jesus’ voice; and ask ourselves, “What is Jesus saying to me? Where is he trying to lead me———at this point in my life? 

     Jesus’ Transfiguration on the mount tells us how to live during this season of Lent, if we keep in mind Jesus and the two people who appeared with him on the mount.

     Moses, who personifies the law of the Old Testament. It was Moses who God gave the ten commandments to, which we must obey, and represents the relationship between God and mankind.

     Elijah, if you remember, was persecuted and flees to the desert on his way to Mount Horeb. He is sustained and fortified by bread from God. An angel appeared and spoke to him saying “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great”. Our bread of life is the Eucharist which we are encouraged to eat for the strength we need on our journey in this world.

     Then there is Jesus, who is infinitely greater than Moses or Elijah. He gives us the words of life which we call “The Good News”. God tells us “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” We must listen to his words and follow the example he left for us, namely, to accept whatever God calls of us in this life, even the pain and the suffering. When I think of what little pain and suffering, I’ve had in my life, I realize it’s nothing compared to the pain and suffering Jesus went through at Gethsemane.

     Consideration of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mount teaches us that our salvation depends on the way we keep the commandments of God; receiving Holy Communion as often as possible, and accept the will of God, even in times of trial and suffering.  Celebrating the Transfiguration reminds us of what comes after the cross because it reminds us of the glory of Jesus risen from the dead; and that God has destined the glory of the transfiguration for each one of us in the next life.