Gospel: Transfiguration of the Lord

Today marks the Second Sunday of Lent and the Gospel reading will be lifted from the narrative of St Mark (9:2-10).

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them.

Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus.

Then Peter spoke to Jesus, "Rabbi," he said, "it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

He did not know what to say; they were so frightened.

And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him."

Then suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore but only Jesus. 

As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead.

They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what "rising from the dead" could mean.

On the second Sunday of Lent in each Lectionary cycle, the Gospel reading proclaims the story of Jesus' Transfiguration. This event is recorded in each of the Synoptic Gospels--Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This year, in Lectionary Cycle B, we hear St Mark's report of the event.

The context for St Mark's Transfiguration story is similar to that found in St Matthew's and St Luke's Gospel. The Transfiguration occurs after St Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus' prediction of his passion. After this, in each of these Gospels, there is also a discussion of the cost of discipleship.

In each case, Jesus takes three of his disciples--St Peter, St James, and St John--to a high mountain. While they are there, Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. In St Matthew's and St Mark's Gospel, there is reference to a conversation among Jesus, Elijah, and Moses, but only St Luke's Gospel includes the detail that this conversation is about what Jesus will accomplish in Jerusalem.

Elijah and Moses are significant figures in the history of Israel. Moses led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and received from Yahweh the Ten Commandments. In appearing with Jesus at his Transfiguration, Moses represents the Law that guides the lives of the Jewish people. Elijah is remembered as one of the most important prophets of Israel who helped the Israelites stay faithful to Yahweh. Some Jews believed that Elijah's return would signal the coming of the Messiah for the Jewish people. This belief is evidenced in the question posed by Jesus' disciples after they have witnessed the Transfiguration. The appearance of these two important figures from Israel's history with Jesus signifies Jesus' continuity with the Law and with the prophets and that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was promised to the people of Israel.

On seeing Jesus with Elijah and Moses, and having witnessed his Transfiguration, St Peter offers to construct three tents for them. St Mark reports that the disciples are terrified by what they have witnessed and that St Peter's offer is made out of confusion. We also notice that St Peter has reverted from his earlier confession that Jesus is the Messiah, calling Jesus a Rabbi instead. As if in reply to St Peter's confusion, a voice from heaven speaks, affirming Jesus as God's Son and commanding the disciples to obey him. This voice from heaven recalls the voice that was heard in Jesus' baptism.

In his Transfiguration, we see an anticipation of the glory of Jesus' resurrection. In each of the reports of the Transfiguration, Jesus instructs the disciples to keep secret what they have seen until after the Son of Man has risen from the dead. The disciples' confusion continues as they wonder what Jesus means by rising from the dead. The disciples cannot possibly understand Jesus' Tranafiguration until they also witness his passion and death. We hear the story of Jesus' Transfiguration early in Lent, but we have the benefit of hindsight. In our hearing of it, we anticipate Jesus' resurrection, even as we remember Jesus' passion and death.

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