HOMILY
FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A
Rev.
Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
The Christian life is
so divinely structured that our experience is not only that of misery and
struggling to overcome temptations that try to pull us down. There are also
moments of glory; moments that call to mind the wordings of Psalm 126:5 that
those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap. God does not just
expect us to struggle and overcome the vicissitudes of life; He also expects us
to realize that he desires our transformation; a transformation that He himself
effects. That transformation initiates moments of assuming a splendid beauty, a
clear shining, an extraordinary figure, and a glorious appearance that dazzles
the eyes of the onlookers. Transfiguration is a glorious experience that has
the undertone of divine assurance. If transfiguration speaks, then it utters
the wordings: I am with you always till the end of time. This Sunday is such a
day when the lives of many Christians are transfigured that their lives
practically become known and seen as the life in God. No one who encounters the
divine presence remains the same. And transfiguration is a commemoration of an
encounter of divine presence. And we all
with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into
the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the
Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
The Gospel according to
Matthew 17:1-8 has been read to our hearing. It tells the story of the
transfiguration of Jesus. We must spell it out from the onset that the mount of
transfiguration was for Jesus a mountain of reflection; a spiritual mountain
peak where he must discover whether it was actually right to continue his journey
towards Jerusalem and be crucified on the cross. That was why the apparition
experienced was the greatest of all the law givers (Moses) and the greatest of
the prophets (Elijah) who told him to go on. We must not also forget the voice
that authenticated the approval of God. It was this experience in Matthean
account that gave to Jesus the rigidity to walk the way of the cross. However,
we must present the very many significance that we can draw from this episode.
It is a moment of
divine encounter and revelation
It was after six days
that Jesus took his three disciples up to the mount of transfiguration. After
six days of what? It was after six days of the most important question at
Ceaserea Philippi (cf. Matt. 16:13-28) when the divinity of Christ was made
known to all the apostles. This means that it was on the seventh day after that
great discovery that the transfiguration took place, just like it was on the
seventh day after the six days that Moses spent on top of the mount of
covenant, Sinai in Exodus 24:16 that the Lord spoke to him and transfigured
him. This six-day duration is very significant for a good understanding of
divine encounter. Having discovered the true identity of Christ, and having
been with him for six days, the apostles were now qualified to witness a true
experience of the identity they had mentally known. Six here signifies a period
of preparation and waiting on the Lord; a period with which the Lord used to
confirm the seriousness of the person who is patiently waiting for revelation.
Therefore, the mount of transfiguration is the place where God manifests Himself
to the person who has been seriously waiting for Him. If you desire to
encounter the Lord, the Lord comes to you. He comes to those who desire Him.
It is a place where
figures are transfigured
And Jesus was
transfigured before them. Jesus was transfigured because he had a figure. If a
Christian has no figure, he/she cannot be transfigured. Transfiguration
presupposes a figure. The figure Christ had was that which has the disposition
to always do the will of God. Hence, the one whose will is done is ready to
transform the one who does His will. Transfiguration simply
means a change of figure, but it is not actually the metamorphosis (the word
derived from the Greek word used) that is essential to the event. Its
essentiality flows from the further content of this metamorphoses –face shone
like the sun (cf. Rev 1:16b; 10:1b), clothes became white as light becomes a
being of light; his nature becomes luminous; transparent to the disciples’
gaze. This is the central point of the story, and this links us back to the
shining face of Moses after his encounter with the God of the Decalogue (cf.
Exod. 34:29.35). Strive to have a spiritual figure for the moment of
transfiguration. Hence, the mount of transfiguration is the place where God
changes the figure of the one who already had a disposition to be with Him. On
this mountain, God changes the naked to become clothed; he changes the
prisoners to become freed; he changes the neglected to become most-wanted; he
changes the ridiculed to become the applauded; he changes the sorrowful to
become the glorious; he changes the poor to become the rich; he makes the
sinners to become saints; he changes that stumbling block of yours to become a
stepping stone. Abram’s story in the First Reading (Gen 12:1-4a) changed. He
marched forward to a place the Lord had to show Him; a place that will manifest
his blessedness. The Lord blessed him and made Him so great. Today, child of
God, the Lord will bless you as He blessed Abraham. Amen.
It is a place where
prayers are made
The mount of
transfiguration offers us great opportunity to speak directly to God. In the
new transfigured state, we become more poised to talk to the master that
transfigured us. And Peter made his request that it is good to remain here.
This is a wish expressed by Peter having seen the glory of transfiguration.
Peter’s address to Jesus as Lord showed a fresh and deep respect to God. This address
is synonymous with ‘the great one.’ The mount of transfiguration puts in our
mouths a better way of praying to our Father in heaven; addressing Him in the
manner that is most fit.
It
is a place where our selfish worries are forgotten
Peter was no longer
interested in himself, but in God and beholding the presence of God. He forgot
his worries, his wives, his children, his occupational challenges to the extent
that he made a request to remain on the mountain. He said: let us build three
tents, one for you, one for Elijah and one for Moses. He gave to himself no
tent. He was simply complacent with the divine presence. That was exactly the
reaction of the people when Nehemiah exalted them to be happy and to have the
joy of the Lord as their strength (cf. Neh. 8:10-16). The people started
building tents for they were now sure of divine assurance. On top of that
mountain of transfiguration, our worries are gone, and our assurance restored.
It
is the place where more knowledge is got about the person of God
A discovery of the person of God makes us to
love Him more and to keep His commandments. On the mountain of transfiguration,
God spoke to the apostles. They recognized and experienced more the divine
sonship of Christ from a voice that declared Jesus His beloved, and that
exhorts them to listen to Him. On that mountain, our knowledge of God is
deepened. Our love of God is deepened. Our obedience to God is deepened. This
is a result of the direct experience of encountering God speak to us. Here, we
feel the mercy of God. God palpably calls us to a holy life. The Second Reading
(2Tim. 1:8b-10) reminds us of this that God who has saved us constantly calls
us to a holy life. It is on the mount of transfiguration that we are given this
antidote against sin, and are called to a blessed life.
It is a place of divine
encouragement
After the apparition,
when the disciples were engrossed in fear, Jesus touched them and said to them:
rise, and have no fear. This reminds me of the vision of Daniel after he had a
vision in Daniel 8:18. The one he saw touched him and raised him to his feet.
This is a gesture of encouragement, and of telling one not to lose strength and
hope. Divine revelation always comes with some pressure. No one sees the Lord
and remains normal. But even if our vision of the Lord has affected in a manner
that we are momentarily afraid, he always touches us and raises us to our feet.
His touching them is a sign of calming their fears. The mount of
transfiguration is a place where Jesus calms our fears and worries, and speaks
into our souls: take heart, it is I, do not be afraid (cf. Mtt. 14:27). This
mountain is given to us to provide help and strength for the daily ministry and
to enable us walk the way of the cross.
Today, my dear friends,
I wish you this transfiguration. May you be transfigured. May your families be
transfigured. May your businesses be transfigured. Our society also needs this
transfiguration. And so, may she be transfigured. Have a blessed week and a
happy Sunday. God bless you.
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