Gospel Reflection - 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C

 


Up on the mountain, Peter, James, & John witness Jesus’ Transfiguration. The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus’ face changed in appearance, but doesn’t explain how. Matthew’s Gospel says His face “shone like the sun” and 2 Peter 1:16 says, “...but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” It’s safe to assume, then, that what they saw in Jesus’ face was a radiance far surpassing anything they’d ever seen before. They knew they were on sacred ground, so Peter offered to make up three tents in honor of Jesus, Moses, & Elijah…a place to worship and remember the greatness of Jesus’ glory. They felt safe away from the cares of the world and wanted to remain there with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

God, however, had other plans. Seeing Jesus transfigured in front of their eyes was God’s message to them, revealing Jesus’ true identity and setting things in motion that would lead to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. While it was good to step away from their regular lives, they needed to go down from the mountain, carrying the mystical experience in their hearts, so that His plan for our redemption could be fulfilled.

We, too, need time to step away from the world so that our faith can be refreshed. Whether it be an hour in Adoration, a women’s or men’s conference, a weekend retreat, or just an afternoon alone in nature. It can be difficult to return to our regular lives, especially if that time away leads to a deeply spiritual experience. Our challenge is to take those experiences and allow them to transform our daily lives into something greater…something beyond this world…something Heavenly!

What is your mountain? Where do you most find God’s presence when you need to step away from daily life?

How can you take an extraordinary experience into your ordinary life?

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