Fr. Alan's homily for The Second Sunday of Lent March 4th 2007
In each of the Lectionary cycle's three years of readings, this Sunday has the Gospel of Jesus' "Transfiguration." In each year, this Sunday also remembers Abraham, our "father in faith" (see Eucharistic Prayer One).
Today Abraham, like the disciples, goes into a trance and is seized with terror at what he sees. Encountering God is no joke. God is wild.
But for Abraham and for Peter, James and John, terror is transformed into Covenant. To Abraham God promises everlasting descendants; to the disciples, God reveals his own eternal Son.
Only Luke notices the context of the Transfiguration of Jesus. It took place while he was praying, as did the revelation of the Spirit at his Baptism.
Only Luke notices the content of the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah were speaking with him of his Exodus (passage) which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Jerusalem: city of his boyhood dallying in the Temple on his Father's business, city of one of the temptations.
"Exodus" (passing) points forward, as did the Temptation story last Sunday, to his crucifixion and resurrection, his "Exodus" or, more familiarly, his "Passover" from this world to the glory of the Father, now glimpsed by Peter, James and John.
These three men are the same disciples who will be with him in the garden of Gethsemane, unable to keep awake while Jesus struggles with his destiny: "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Yet let it be as you would have it, not I." (Luke 22:41).
So the glory and the Cross; struggle, suffering and divine light go together, as Jesus said: "It was ordained that the Son of Man should suffer and in this way enter into his glory." (Luke 24:46).
While we are waiting in faith and hope (and it often seems a long wait!) for the "transfiguration" of our mortal body (Philippians 3:21) we have this witness of the Apostles, the Torah and the Prophets to illuminate our waiting time.
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