Fairfield Prep Lenten Reflections

Reflection on Matthew 17:1-9

On this second Sunday of Lent, we encounter the powerful and mystifying story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. While the Transfiguration illuminated in a special way the divinity of Christ for the disciples, this story also signals an important shift in the orientation and focus for the early followers of Jesus.

Picture the scene.

We find Peter, James, and John following their Rabbi Jesus up a mountain. These three disciples represented Jesus’ inner circle and were among the most trusted of Jesus’ followers. The three were prominent in leading the early Church and would go on to play such incredibly important roles – Peter, the Bishop of Rome, James, the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem, and John, the author of the Gospel that attempted to demystify the divinity of Christ. Their presence on the mountain with Jesus was no accident – it was arguably their witness to the Transfiguration, which helped prepare them for the roles they were later tasked to fill.

The description of the Transfiguration is almost otherworldly, with Jesus’ face shining like the sun and his clothes glowing bright white, a glimpse for the disciples of the divinity of Christ.  As part of his inner circle, the disciples would have certainly been intimately familiar with the human Jesus, but this brief glimpse of his divinity would have understandably been hard for them to fully take in and process.

Into this spectacular moment, Moses and Elijah appear, most certainly intensifying the disciples’ amazement and awe.  Moses had ushered in the Jewish law, and Elijah was revered as the Great Prophet; together, they represented the deep tradition and foundation in which their faith was rooted. Peter offers to build three tents to offer Jesus, Moses, and Elijah their rightful honor.

Enter the voice of God. “This is my beloved Son … listen to him.”  Stunned, the disciples were unable to keep their feet and fell prostrate. Jesus called the disciples to their feet, encouraging them, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” Moses and Elijah had departed; only Jesus stood before them, their singular focus. A passing of the torch, if you will. For the disciples and the whole early Church, the orientation continued its shift from the Mosaic law and the prophecies to the singular focus on Christ, his imminent passion and death and the very good news of the resurrection, which we will celebrate on Easter.

During this period of Lenten reflection, might this scene invite a shift in orientation and focus for us as well as disciples of Christ? For today’s Church, for all of us who contemplate this scene, the words that Jesus spoke to the disciples are really offered to us all as well. “Rise, and do not be afraid.”  This period of Lent offers us an opportunity to consider with Ignatian discernment where we need to rise, where we need to work for change in our world and in ourselves. So often, that process of change presents significant challenge as we confront areas where we have fallen down in our lives, individually or collectively as a society.

Fear not. Christ calls us to rise out of those challenges, knowing that he accompanies us on our walk of faith, knowing that when we live into the truth of the good news of the Resurrection, there is nothing that we cannot achieve.

May the grace of this Lenten journey grant each of us the courage to discern those places from which Christ is calling us to rise and the strength to indeed live into the good news of Easter.