2nd Sunday of Lent - Fr. Leo
Luke’s Gospel today recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of Peter, John and James. This moment of light is very significant in salvation history. God’s power is revealed in his Son as his face is changed and his clothing turns dazzling white. God as light shines through his son and reflects on the disciples, changing their understanding of Jesus for ever. Without doubt they know Jesus as the Christ; the anointed one.
As Peter tries to make sense of it all, he would like to hang on to his incredible experience forever and starts to speak, but is interrupted as a voice from heaven proclaims: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”
The same voice and the same words we heard at Jesus’ Baptism are heard here, but what is different is the manifestation of God as a transforming light. Light is energy and all things are made of light. When enlivened by the Holy Spirit we begin to glow in the light of Christ that dwells in us. This is how our redemption is realized and the world made new.
The Easter Vigil celebrates this when, in the darkness of the church, the Pascal Candle is lit and we sing, “Christ, Our Light!” Soon, not only are our faces basking in light, but the whole church glows in the warm and living light of faith shared.
There is an Icon of the Transfiguration which is one of the major icons in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Jesus is raised above in radiant light. To his right and left are Moses and Elijah. This puts Jesus in their company giving context to his place in salvation history. Bellow are the three disciples at a lower level. Humbleness marks their posture. Only Peter looks up. There are three rays of light extending from the cloud of light around Jesus extending to all three disciples. They too, are transformed in the light of Christ.
The point of the Icon is to remind us that Jesus our light, shines on, and in, each of us, to transform us into Christ, sharing his divinity. In this Jesus’ prayer is fulfilled when he prayed in John’s Gospel that we would be one in Him and one in the fullness of God’s Trinitarian life. We are the disciples, and the reality of the Transfiguration is as real in this very moment as it was for Peter, John and James on the mount with Jesus.
In this Eucharist we celebrate today, we receive the light of Christ enflaming His love in us that we too may become the Light of the World.