“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.” (Luke 9:28-29).
The major theme for this second Sunday of Lent focuses on Jesus Christ’s “transfiguration” event, calling us to do likewise to engage in our “transformations,” which means changes like metamorphosis (Greek word “metamorphoomai”) that describes the reality that occurs in different areas of life.
We see a caterpillar becomes a butterfly; a chicken egg is hatched and becomes a chick; and a bud of flower starts to open up and bloom... etc. All these changes require time and process. For example: precious stones and expensive gems like diamond, emerald, ruby and sapphire come from crystalized minerals that under the earth’s immense heat and intense pressure needed many years to form. Natural pearls are formed when a foreign object enters an oyster’s shell. To defend itself from the intruder, the oyster puts layer after layer of calcium carbonate, known as nacre, along with other minerals to cover around the particle like onionskins to grow and form the precious pearl. Thus, the foreign intruder is gradually “transformed” or “transfigured” or “changed” into a rare and expensive pearl.
Change seems inevitable or unavoidable and most of the time uncomfortable. We all change in life. Physically a baby is grown and changed to become a child, then a teenager, then a young adult, then a mature person, then an elder. Yet, change for the better and not for worse is what we all desire.
God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s readings invite us to have the necessary patience, wisdom, courage and determination to work with the Holy Spirit to change and transform our lives by renewing ourselves during this Lenten season, to radiate the glory and grace of the transfigured Lord to all around us by our Spirit-filled lives.
How can we participate in Christ’s transfiguration by transforming ourselves and becoming more like Him through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, receiving the Holy Communion, the sacraments and doing the works of mercy?