First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
Reflection Questions
1. What in the world was St. Peter thinking when he said to the Lord, “If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”? Why don’t you think Jesus responded to St. Peter?
2. Does Jesus ever scare you? Why? Why not? What can you do to be less afraid of Jesus?
3. How has your Lenten journey been to this point? Have you been faithful to your Lenten promises? What is the next step you need to take to love God more deeply this Lent?
Gospel Reflection
Ever have a friend reveal a new side of them to you and it left you speechless? Welcome to the world of Sts. Peter, James and John. Our Gospel reading this Sunday takes us to the Transfiguration of Jesus. This event gives the three Apostles a glimpse at the full divine identity of Jesus. First, we have to wonder why Jesus only took three of Apostles with Him? Why keep it a secret from everyone? Why even show these three in the first place? No matter Jesus’ reasons, what we can take from it is the fact that Jesus, in the midst of His earthly ministry, never lost or gave up His divine nature: God was truly walking with us on this planet. Imagine the reaction that Sts. Peter, James and John must have had as Jesus’ appearance changed right before their eyes. There’s no other way to put it: They must have freaked out. Jesus doesn’t let back His glory from them, and then Moses and Elijah show up on the scene. Why Moses and Elijah? Moses represents the Law and the Ten Commandments, and Elijah represents the prophets and their call to repentance: Together they represent the Old Covenant. Jesus stands between them as the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the center of the New Covenant. If Jesus’ transformation wasn’t enough, if having Moses and Elijah with them wasn’t enough, then hearing the voice of the Father from heaven was: The Apostles immediately fell to the ground and were afraid. As quickly as the Transfiguration began, it ended, with Jesus, looking ‘normal’, and Moses and Elijah gone from the scene. From this event we understand that Jesus knew full-well that not only He would die, but would rise again. Jesus tells the three to keep the whole incident quiet until He has been raised from the dead. Why would Jesus want to keep this incident quiet? Jesus knew that the world was not yet ready to know His divine identity at this time. Jesus guards the amount of knowledge He gives His disciples, who are not ready for the full story, the full understanding of who Jesus is and what He’s got planned for them. The Lord treats us the same way, slowly revealing Himself to us as we are ready. As we continue to enter more deeply into our Lenten practices, we have to make sure that we are seeking God’s presence in everything we do. Jesus desires to reveal Himself to us this Lent in a way we have never before experienced. What is demanded on our part is that we simply open ourselves up more to His love. By doing this, we will see a new side of Jesus’ love for us. Let us pray for a continued ability to respond to God’s invitation to love Him more and more.
These reflections come from YM Central
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