2nd Sunday of Lent - Transfiguration

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus took Peter, James and John up a very high mountain and it was there He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white. The extra ordinary event would be something the three apostles would never forget. But, why would Jesus reveal the magnificence of His glory to them?

Just before the transfiguration occurred, Our Lord gathered His apostles around Him, and said something to them which caused all of them great fear and grief. He told His apostles “I’m going to Jerusalem to suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, to be put to death-- and I will be raised up on the third day.”

When speaking to Moses and Elijah He spoke about His “exodus that He was going to accomplish in Jerusalem”. What He meant by exodus is that He would be leaving this world and going to the next due to His suffering, death and resurrection.

The apostles knew that if Jesus was going to suffer and die, they too would go through a great suffering, because they could not bear to see their Master suffer and die.

Jesus wanted to give them a glimpse of the glory that is to come. He wanted them to persevere through the great trial and suffering that was imminently approaching. Our Divine Lord would go to Jerusalem to be arrested, placed in prison, scourged, crowned with thorns, mocked, forced to carry a Cross, stripped of His clothes, nailed to the Cross and then suffer for three hours until He would breathe His last.

The revelation of His glory on Mount Tabor would give the apostles hope, in the midst of the terrible tragedy of His death. The last part of what He said would also come true, He would be raised on the third day. It would give them hope of the life to come, that they would live forever with Jesus in heaven, but that they too would suffer much, be rejected and die.

When the body of Jesus was laid in the tomb, Peter, James and John wept many tears and their hearts were broken, because of the loss of their Savior. However, during their difficult time, they could have reflected of the glory of the Transfiguration. Maybe they would have said to one another, “Remember when His face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white?” Remember what He said, that He would go to Jerusalem to suffer and die at the hands of the Chief Priests and elders, but what did He say after that, but, “He will be raised on the third day.”

Because of the Transfiguration, Jesus allowed Peter, James and John to enjoy for a very short time the contemplation of the happiness that lasts forever, so as to enable them to bear great suffering that was to come and give them greater courage and faith to endure it.

Perhaps this is what God is calling us today to do. To contemplate the transfiguration-- and the glory and joy of heaven, because of the great suffering that every one of us will experience in the future.

We all knows its’ coming---our own suffering and death. Yet no one knows the day nor the hour when it will come. Many of us likewise know that in the future, one of our loved ones will die, (whether it’s a parent, a spouse or a brother or sister) and we will have to go through that time of trial and suffering.

With what’s going on the world, its possible greater suffering than we are experiencing now will come in the future. We pray for all those from the Ukraine and Russia losing loved ones and those being displaced.

Today, there is so much suffering, so much fear and anxiety because of the events of the world. Yet, the transfiguration of Jesus gives us courage in the midst of suffering and tragedy. Our Lord shows us that if we contemplate the glory of heaven now, when trials and tribulations come, we will have peace. We will trust. We will have hope.

Imagine just for a moment what heaven will be like. Recall the words of St. Paul with regard to heaven, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man those things that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

No more fears, no suffering, no pain, no temptations, no sin. Think of the love that awaits you. Think of the calm, the peace, the joy, the splendor and the light. In heaven there is no night, no heat, no cold, no sickness. There is neither death nor no old age. Above all think about the everlasting presence of God and possessing Christ Himself. Think about being with and talking with those who have gone before us. Think of the angels and the saints. And will see the most glorious things and learn about the most wonderful things. We will experience eternal happiness and rest because we will have kept our eyes on Jesus, and our heart fixed on the glory that is to come. Such that no matter what suffering comes our way, we will hope, we will trust, and we will have peace.

Jesus is on Mount Tabor, so to speak, on the altar at every Mass. He comes in the Sacred Host in His glorified and risen body. During Eucharistic Adoration He is exposed in all His glory. Though we cannot see His risen glorified body, it is there before us in Eucharistic adoration. When we gaze upon the Eucharist, our soul is transfigured and becomes bright. We become a hidden channel of grace as Pope Paul VI said, "Being such a powerhouse of grace, Perpetual Adoration extends its influence far beyond the individual adorers, touching their homes and families and reaching out to the parish community and beyond."

So when we are praying before Jesus in the Eucharist, we make an influence on world. Our prayers in adoration will help end the war sooner and will help those who are suffering and bring about peace. Jesus needs us right now to come to Him, so that the graces we receive will flow out upon the world and help those especially in need. Not only will we help save lives, especially we will help save souls and convert hearts.

I would like to especially compliment all those who have been very faithful to your Holy Hour. You are an inspiration. In fact, by far our parish has had the least difficulties, in all 4 parishes where I helped start adoration. In our parish there is a special unity with each other. This unity of persons is a reflection of the Blessed Trinity united in love. You do very well in asking each other when you need someone to take your hour. I was speaking with a few substitutes and all three of us agree we are hardly ever called. So if you are unable to find a family member to cover your hour, we are very happy to substitute. We love to be with Jesus.

Each person who comes to adore Jesus in adoration receives immeasurable gifts from the Lord when we spend time with Him and when we pray and contemplate the mysteries of the Holy Rosary in His presence.

I once met Zachary King, who was a former Satanic high priest. Due to the miraculous medal, he had a conversion, went to Confession and became a popular speaker. Do you know what he said Satan fears the most? He said Satan fears the most-- prayers from the pure hearts of children. I would like to suggest you bring your children with you to adoration. Their hearts are pure and mostly innocent and their prayers will make a huge difference in the world.

Praying the Rosary, while meditating on the Mysteries of Light, we contemplate the fourth mystery- the Transfiguration. The Rosary is one of the best ways to meditate on the mysteries of our faith.

And when we pray the Rosary, we turn with great confidence to Mary, and ask Her to give us the courage to persevere through suffering by contemplating the glory of Her Son’s transfiguration and to keep our heart and mind on the life of the glory of the world to come (Heaven).