Scripture for this reflection can be found at Second Sunday of Lent | USCCB
In the gospel for this Second
Sunday of Lent we hear of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Luke, chapter 9.
I can only imagine the surprise and fear on Peter, John and James when Elijah
and Moses appeared with Jesus. During this vision, we hear that Jesus “spoke of
his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” Everything that Moses
and Elijah did in their lives pointed towards the coming of Jesus into the
world for our salvation. Jesus is the fulfillment of all that happened in the
Old Testament. Further, the Transfiguration is a glimpse of the future glory of
the Resurrected Jesus on Easter Sunday morning. Finally, during this vision, we
hear from God the Father: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” It’s a call
to follow Jesus and to grow in our vocation as Christians. We are called to
have Jesus in the center of all who we are.
The way we fulfill God’s
command of listening to Jesus is by the regular attendance at Sunday and daily
Mass, by regular reading of scripture and by praying regularly throughout
the day. In this way we will know and acknowledge that Jesus is present to us
in our daily lives, and we’ll be able grow spiritually closer to Him in all we
do.
Pope St. John Paul II, in
reflecting on the Transfiguration, says that it is “a call to embrace the
transformative power of faith and to follow Christ's example of self-giving
love, even in the face of hardship and suffering.”
So, let us embrace Jesus as
our Savior and prepare during this time of Lent for the suffering and death of
Jesus on Good Friday and His Glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteYES. Moses represents the Law & Elijah represents the Prophets, & the Law & the Prophets point to JESUS. We get a picture of this in the Transfiguration in the appearance of Moses & Elijah, in their conversing with Our LORD JESUS, & then we see the PRIMACY of Our LORD JESUS when Moses & Elijah disappear, leaving only Our LORD JESUS on the mountaintop & when we hear GOD the Father's voice affirming that JESUS is His beloved Son & instructing us to listen to Him.
After Our LORD's Resurrection we will read & hear Our LORD JESUS explain ALL the Scriptures & how they all point to HIM & His death & Resurrection to the disciples who encountered Him on the road to Emmaus.
I always want Our LORD JESUS at the center of my life. I like to picture life as a big circle with Our LORD JESUS/faith/teaching of Scripture & the Church at the center & every aspect of my life along the circumference of the circle, with arrows pointing from the CENTER to each aspect & from each aspect to the CENTER. I keep Christian radio in the background: the teaching programs at home & Christian contemporary music in my car, so even if I am not consciously praying or focusing, since I am driving or doing other things, there is something to draw me into a greater awareness of Our LORD in the midst of my busy--ness.