SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

SECOND SUNDAY LENT, 16 MARCH 2025: TRANSFIGURATION Focus: Glory is our destiny and transfiguration is the way. Misery is not a resident fact but only a temporary ‘parking lot’ 1. Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of three of his disciples. His face and clothes glow so bright and radiant. This indicates that his glory is total, both interior and exterior. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as Peter exclaims: “it is nice to be here; let us make three tents”. 2. The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity, and glory. But it is not to display his glory, not to impress his greatness upon the three disciples. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, who will face the disgrace of the cross and death of their master in near future. 3. The transfigured glory of Jesus illuminates and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of the cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts the cross as God's will for salvation. It is not a fate of misery and damnation but a destiny of glory and salvation. 4. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of cross, let them not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond to the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory. 5. Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him. 6. Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. It is an indicator, a forecast, and foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of the resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality. Misery is not an absolute fate. 7. Glory is our eternal destiny. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. The transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection. 8. This is possible only through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior. In other words, it is a call for a constant REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness. 9. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, the more we adhere to him in "attentive listening to him", the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory. 10. Sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's images. But, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity and radiate the light of that true image. 11. Thus real transfiguration lies in a daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, daily on the "mountain" - of the vicinity, proximity, and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambience of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in a personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition. 12. Transform and glorify life, wholly and fully. Change the interior, indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior. Change the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes. Let our every day be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our heart, our life, brighter, with more hope and more renewal. Direction: When frightened by the adversities of life, let us not lose heart or hope. Let us turn to the transfigured Lord and strengthen our faith. Let us be confirmed about our own transfiguration and thus deepen our hope