transfigured hope
"While He was praying, His face changed in appearance and His clothes became dazzlingly white." —Luke 9:29
On the second Sunday of Lent, we always focus on Jesus' Transfiguration. We begin Lent in the desert (Lk 4:1), quickly climb Transfiguration Mountain, and quickly return to the desert. We end Lent on the verge of climbing Mount Calvary on the way to the cross.
Today marks the highest point of Lent. We will not return to this elevation until we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension. Today Jesus chooses us to climb Transfiguration Mountain. Here we see the glory of Jesus and the glory of heaven. Because of this experience, we can assure those struggling through Lent and through life that the sufferings of the present are "as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us" (Rm 8:18). We can tell the world that, no matter how long we spend in the desert or how painful the climb up Mount Calvary, Jesus "will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of His glorified body, by His power to subject everything to Himself" (Phil 3:21). Despite Satan tempting us in our Lenten desert, in Jesus our victory is assured and our future glorious.
Because of the Transfiguration, we are filled with hope that will not leave us disappointed (Rm 5:5). The roughest Lent will result in the most glorious Easter. The transfigured Christ is the hope and promise of the risen Christ. Praise Jesus!
Prayer: Father, motivate me by hope (Col 1:4).
Promise: "Abram put his faith in the Lord, Who credited it to him as an act of righteousness." —Gn 15:6
Praise: Praise You, transfigured Jesus, "dazzling as the sun...radiant as light" (Mt 17:2). Your glory leads us to the Father.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God or on audio AV 43-1 or video V-43.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 26, 2009
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