On this 2nd Sunday of Lent we are given the account of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This word “transfiguration” signifies a change of form or appearance. This is perfectly summed up by Saint Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, “the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ.” Therefore, here upon Mount Tabor His clothing became dazzling white for He was revealed as God made Flesh to His apostles.
The figures of Moses and Elijah who appear with Him in this account are very important. Moses represents the Law for he was given the Law and Elijah the prophets for he is held as being the greatest of the prophets. Moses died while Elijah was taken up to Heaven in a fiery chariot. Christ is the “Lord of both the dead and the living” in the words of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Moses and Elijah both experience their own encounter with God upon Mount Sinai. Elijah experiences Him in a “light silent sound” according to 1 Kings and Moses encounters Him in the book of Exodus in the burning bush. Now these figures of the Old Testament stand with Him and point the way to His glory. It was of this glory that the apostles experienced with their sight that they would later return to following His Passion and Resurrection.
Much later we are told from the Gospel of Saint Luke that the Lord appeared to His disciples on the road to Emmaus following His Resurrection. There we are told, “beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.” Here they uttered, “were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”
As we continue this journey of Lent we must allow the Lord’s words to be at work within our own heart and soul. It is no mistake that this account of the Lord’s Transfiguration takes place during the season of Lent because this experience strengthened “the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his passion” in the words of the Catechism. We too must be given such faith in Him in order that we may allow our life to dwell with Him for He is not only fully man, but also fully God.
Whenever we have the opportunity to adore our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar we have the opportunity to be with the same God that Moses and Elijah adored. We are able to be with He whom the apostles gave praise and glory. Through fervent Eucharistic devotion our heart will be burning within us.
Let the tabernacle be a place for our refuge. The Lord invites us into this space and so let us remember whose presence that we have entered into. In the midst of all the issues of this life we should remember to bring them before the Lord in order that He may be the one to strengthen us. Let us adore Christ present among us in the Blessed Sacrament always and let our life become a reflection of His.
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