Transfiguration Moments… An Assurance in Life’s Dark Days

Homily: Second Sunday of Lent (B)

28 February 2021 

Mark 9:2-10

Fr. Ricky C. Montanez, AA

A good friend who likes K-Drama (more than me, of course) avoids watching an ongoing series because she hates waiting for the new episode to be aired each week. I also realised that the other reason why she waits for the series to be completed before watching it is because she has the habit of skipping half-way through the series to the ending when the plot becomes so emotionally-charged for her to handle. This may not be an ideal way of watching a good series but instead of making her lose interest in the show, she says knowing the ending gives her the proper perspective and motivates her to go back and watch the rest of the episodes she skipped. 

In today’s Gospel from Mark relating the Transfiguration of Jesus, three of the disciples (Peter, James and John) are given a glimpse of Jesus’ future glory. We note that prior to this glorious event as narrated in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has told His disciples of the suffering and death that awaited Him in the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law in Jerusalem. (Mark 8:31) This prediction of Jesus about His suffering greatly distressed the disciples. They had been hoping for the Messiah to establish an earthly kingdom, to subdue all their enemies and to set up a triumphant kingdom for God’s chosen people.  It was with this frame of mind that Peter, James and John — Jesus’ innermost circle of friends — were allowed to witness the Transfiguration. This was meant to strengthen, encourage and assure them as they faced the dark days of suffering, beginning with the experience of being with Jesus throughout His Agony in the Garden. It obviously made no sense to them at that time. The dazzling light and the vision of Moses and Elijah, who were practically legendary heroes in early Judaism, overwhelmed and frightened them and they instinctively wanted to build tents to honour them. Some scholars say they were tempted to remain on the mountain hoping the glorious experience would never end or perhaps, if they remained they could experience it again and keep reliving that special moment. Who wouldn’t want to be on a constant natural high, to always feel special, blessed and invincible? Jesus, however, led them back down the mountain to face the days ahead. 

We, too can get discouraged and depressed when our life is making no sense.  Abraham in the First Reading was so broken-hearted when God had asked him to sacrifice the son he loved so much and waited so long for as proof of his love and loyalty. Luckily for Abraham, the story ends well and his son is spared. For some of us, the story does end in tragedy. During these uncertain times, it is easy to question God. Why do we have to lose our jobs? Why must we go hungry? Why must our loved ones get sick?  Why must we suffer?  I think of those who lost their loved ones so suddenly to Covid during the lockdowns. Many of them did not even have the chance to spend time with them in the hospital to care for them personally as they fought a losing battle with the virus in hospital ICUs… Many of them, I am certain, questioned their faith, and pondered the point of these senseless deaths and wondered what will become of their existence. 

Other times we also find ourselves overwhelmed by the reality of the crosses we have to carry in our lives especially when all our suffering seems to be never ending. A friend of mine recounted their family’s experience in caring for her father who was sick a long time. The hospital confinements, the periodic check-ups, the experimental treatments took a toll on their family — physically, emotionally and financially. It also changed the temperament of her father who used to be mild-mannered, funny, and ever optimistic. It turned him into an irate and difficult patient. Just as Jesus allowed his friends to witness his future glory, my friend believes God gave her a way to get through the hardship.  When things got so tough for them, she would think of the fantastic vacations God had blessed them with before her father’s illness got worse. She recounts those trips when her family was happy and her dad seemed strong.  She recalls not wanting to come home at all from the holidays to another round of treatments and hospital confinements. Her father died within a year, and the family was devastated.  It was by far, the heaviest cross their family had to bear.  By God’s grace, they have found healing.

We all have crosses to carry, some heavier than others. Jesus also had to bear a heavy cross and endure sufferings that He did not deserve.  However, He went through them willingly because of love — love for us.  When life presents us with painful and trying moments, we are invited to look to Jesus Christ, who faced His own passion and death serenely with the assurance of the Father’s protection and vindication for Him.   God’s assurance of His love for us is the fact that He gave His only Son for our sake.  Jesus His Son, takes it a step further and completes His mission to save us by His passion and death. John 15:13 says: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” God’s infinite love for us should encourage us to persevere in moments of terrible tests of our faith.  This is how St. Paul encourages the newly-converted Christians of Rome when he asks in today’s Second Reading… “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not also give us everything else along with Him?”  This created an unshakable confidence in God’s faithful love which sustained the early Christians through terrible persecutions and emboldened them to face even death for the sake of their faith in Christ. Isn’t this love that is worth dying for, more than enough of a guarantee to prod us on and persevere through our own struggles in life? 

I read somewhere that we must “trust the process”. Life is a process. It is not some static, constant experience of pure joy or continuous suffering. All the wonderful experiences of life coupled with all the trials are meant to make us the best versions of ourselves and allow us to help one another manoeuvre through the complexities and sensitivities of being alive. If anything, the Transfiguration story teaches us, it is not to fear.  We are never alone in life because God is always with us guiding us, protecting us, and lifting us up when we are down. We must recognize all the glorious moments he sends to energize and encourage us. Thereafter, we must endeavour to go back down the mountain and live our life. 

In the face of the many challenges we contend with these days, let us firmly trust that God is always with us. May we hold on to this hope of our future glory so that we may not escape our share in the sufferings of Christ but rather keep on going towards the heavenly inheritance to which we have all become sharers of in Christ Jesus.

Artwork by Bro. Blair Paulus C. Nuyda, AA