THE MOMENT OF TRANSFIGURATION

Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

The season of Lent comes with a transformative power. Whenever we overcome temptations, we make our figures ready for transfiguration.  The Life of the Christian is not just one filled with temptations; it's also filled with transformation and the glory of transfiguration. This glory is the consequence of our covenant with God. The First Reading (Gen. 15:5-12;17-18) tells of the solemn covenant God made with Abraham which was the foundation of God's relationship with the Israelites. And through the transfigured Christ, we are today the heirs to this covenant. The second reading (Phil. 3:17-4:1) makes it obvious that not all in the early church lived up to the demands of the Christian life. Thus, a continuous transformation was needed. This is achieved by heeding to the words of Paul to remain faithful. The Gospel (Like 9: 28-36) is the famous story of the transfiguration of Jesus on mount Tabor. This is a story which foreshadowed the bodily state of post-resurrected Jesus. It was a moment of great experience for Jesus, for the disciples, and for us today. 

1. It is a moment of divine encounter and revelation

According to Luke, It was after eight days of Jesus' teaching to his disciples based on Peter's confession of Faith that he took the trio to the mount of transfiguration. It was after eight 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. Having discovered the true identity of Christ, and having been with him for eight days, the apostles were now qualified to witness a true experience of the identity they had mentally known. Eight here may signify 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 patiently waiting for Him.  The Lord comes to those who desire Him.W Weshall not also be quick to forget that God the Father spoke to these men. 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 and love of God is deepened. 

2. It is a moment when 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 – his face changed in appearance. For Matthew, the face shone like the sun (cf. Rev 1:16b; 10:1b), and his clothes became dazzling white. 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). We need to have a spiritual figure for us to experience the moment of transfiguration. Hence, the mount of transfiguration is the place where God changes the figure of the one who already hah a disposition to be with Him. On this mountain, God changes the naked to become clothed; changes the prisoners to become freed; changes the ostracized to become popular; changes the ridiculed to become the applauded; changes the sorrowful to become glorious; changes the poor to become the rich; and transforms sinners into saints.

3. It is a moment of prayers

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 (master) shows a fresh understanding of Jesus which exhibits a deep respect to God. Transfiguration induces great respect for God. When we are transfigured, we pray better. 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.

4. It is a moment when 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. 
We constantly pray for the grace of transfiguration. Happy New week. And God bless you.