Second Sunday of Lent
Today we receive an account of the Transfiguration, an amazing spectacle during which Jesus, for so long an ordinary-looking man, appears shining and glorious: a revelation of His divinity. Peter is particularly astounded, wishing to put up three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, not only out of hospitality but also hoping that the visiting dignitaries from Heaven might linger a while longer: he wants to make the glory of this moment last. Why? Not merely because it is amazing, but notice what occurs immediate before and after this astounding and triumphant moment.
Prior to the Transfiguration and afterward Jesus speaks of His impending Passion; the first time, Peter rejects this declaration. Now Peter sees this vision of glory; surely such a Christ could not suffer and die as Jesus said! His eyes distract him; he is blind and deaf to Jesus, seeing only what he wants to see, and listening only to his own fear. And so the vision is taken away and a voice from Heaven says, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. For must we not, as St. Paul says, Walk by faith, not by sight? If the apostles were listening, rather than being so enamored by what they saw, what would they hear Moses, Elijah, and Jesus speaking about? Luke tells us precisely: they spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Thus the Father speaks to the apostles, shutting their eyes in a way in order to open the ears of their hearts to hear: “This is my Son, as mighty and powerful as I. Listen to Him; listen to what He says, and what He must do, or you will not have courage when the time comes. Listen to Him, and let your compassion for Him be stirred up now that you might love Him, even when He is taken away, even when the whole cruelty of the world crushes Him in your sight, for if you listen to Him, if you love Him, you will not be afraid, for there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear (1 John 4:18). Listen to Him, that your faith may not fail, for faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). But Peter did not listen, and when things came about as Jesus said they would, his faith and courage failed and he learned a painful lesson that would drown his now wide eyes in bitter tears (Luke 22:54-62): to deny the Cross is to deny Jesus Himself.