LENTEN REFLECTION – THE SECOND WEEK – Sunday 12 March
A spontaneous question which can arise in our minds today is ‘why the scene of transfiguration’ – a scene which portrays the glory of Jesus – is inserted during the time of Len, which mainly focuses on the passion and death of Jesus?
The transfiguration scene is presented today to remove the fear and the despair of every believer. Ā This presentation of the glory of Jesus urges us to live the remaining time of Lent with courage and conviction.
The transfiguration is a special and privileged moment, both for Jesus and for His disciples. Ā For Jesus it was a moment of manifestation of His glory, divine confirmation of His status as the Son of God and an affirmation of His mission. Ā With all these extraordinary events confirming Jesus’ true identity, the one true response demanded from us is to listen to Him.
The transfiguration beautifully portrays the effects of God-experience. Ā God-experience reveals one’s true identity; Ā Jesus heard the voice from the cloud confirming His Sonship. Ā God-experience is an expererience of God’s love; Ā Jesus experiences the love of the Father in the voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Ā God-experience transforms; Ā Jesus’ Face shines like the sun and His clothes become bright as light.
For the disciples, the Divine experience was so awe-inspiring that they became ecstatic. Ā The Divine experience was also so overwhelming that the disciples became terrified.
Though the disciples preferred to remain on the top of the mountain, Jesus leads them down. Ā Thus Jesus offers us a lesson that contemplation and action should go hand in hand. Ā The experience of the Lord should lead us to corresponding action – and our actions should receive their vitality and energy from our God-experience in prayer.
…..Fr Devasia Joseph SSP
AnaStpaul 