“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
A central tenet of the Christian faith, the Transfiguration of Jesus, is being commemorated this week as the second Sunday of Lent. The event, recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, offers a moment of profound revelation and hope for believers worldwide.
The Transfiguration narrative details a moment where Jesus’s appearance became radiant and glorious whereas on a mountain with three of his apostles – Peter, James, and John. According to the biblical account, the prophets Moses and Elijah too appeared alongside him, engaging in conversation. A voice from the clouds then identified Jesus as “my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Many Christian traditions, including the Byzantine Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican churches, observe the event as the Feast of the Transfiguration. The original Greek term *metemorphōthē*, meaning “was transformed,” is used to describe the event in the Gospels of Luke and Mark. In Greek Orthodoxy, the event is referred to as the metamorphosis.
The significance of the Transfiguration lies in its unique nature as a miracle performed *on* Jesus himself. As theologian Thomas Aquinas noted, it is considered “the greatest miracle” as it complements baptism and foreshadows the perfection of life in Heaven. The event serves as a powerful anticipation of Jesus’s resurrection and glorification.
The biblical account follows the story of the temptations of Jesus, marking it as the focal point for reflection during the second Sunday of Lent. The readings for this period encourage believers to deepen their understanding of the mystery of Christ and to live it fully.
Central to this understanding is the voice from the cloud, which reveals Jesus’s true identity. Throughout his ministry, various opinions circulated regarding Jesus – some claiming he was possessed, others dismissing him as a glutton and drunkard, while still others identified him as a prophet or the Messiah. While, it is the divine proclamation – “This is my Son, the Beloved, my chosen one” – that reveals the profound truth of his being and the purpose behind his actions.
Jesus embodies the ideal relationship with God, characterized by complete trust, surrender, and obedience, even to the point of accepting death. The readings also draw parallels to the story of Abraham, who was called by God to exit his homeland and journey to an unknown land. This call to Abraham, like the revelation at the Transfiguration, highlights the importance of listening to and obeying God’s voice.
The author of one reflection encourages those facing difficulties to remember that faithfulness to Christ often involves risks and suffering. God does not typically lead people along uncomplicated paths, as evidenced in the lives of Abraham, Jesus, Paul, and Timothy, and continues to be true for Christians in many parts of the world today.
The Gospel of Matthew consistently features significant events taking place on a mountain, symbolizing a place of encounter with God – a tradition rooted in the Old Testament, where Mount Sinai and Mount Oreb were sites of divine revelation. The radiant face and white garments associated with the Transfiguration are also recurring motifs in biblical imagery.
The Transfiguration represents the culmination of the Old Testament, with Moses and Elijah finding their fulfillment in Jesus. However, Peter initially struggles to grasp the full significance of the event, suggesting the construction of shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, revealing a limited understanding of Jesus’s unique status. God intervenes to correct this misinterpretation, emphasizing that Jesus is the “chosen one.”
Following the revelation, Moses and Elijah disappear, having fulfilled their purpose of presenting the Messiah to the world. The witnesses are instructed to remain silent, understanding that salvation comes through listening and obeying God’s signs, not through sensational events. The full truth will be revealed after Jesus’s resurrection.
listening to Jesus calls believers to embark on a journey of transformation, leaving behind complacency and embracing a life of attentiveness to others and commitment to building the Kingdom of God. The author concludes with a message of hope, stating, “The path is life, in capital letters. Let us not be afraid. Let us listen, because at any moment God may make his voice heard. The beloved Son of the Father shows the way, knows the way, because He is the Way.”
Vuestro hermano en la fe,
Alejandro, C.M.F.
