TRANSFORMED BY PRAYER
2nd Sunday of Lent C
Lenten readings call us to deep
and sincere change. Today, we
witness Jesus undergo a profound change on the mountain. As he was transfigured, he was
enveloped in a brilliance that was out of this world. Isn’t he the humble
carpenter, the lowly prophet, the vagabond rabbi? Look at him now in glory!
Then there were the mysterious
visitors from across Israel’s history – Moses and Elijah – conversing with
Jesus about a certain mission.
Still more puzzling was the voice the apostles heard: “This is my chosen
Son. Listen to him.” This scene will remain etched in the hearts and minds of
the three companions who witnessed it (Lk. 9).
The transfiguration of Jesus
happened in an instant, like a flash that quickly appeared and as quickly,
vanished. But for the disciples,
there already started a change – but slow, gradual, a process. They did not fully understand but they
had a feeling that as the Master was transfigured, so too, they would be transformed
one day.
This Lent, the Lord invites us to
see him transfigured so that desiring the same for ourselves, he may start the
change within us. The second reading (Phil. 3), promises that our lowly body
will be changed to conform to his own glorious body. Isn’t this the ultimate
goal of knowing and following Jesus, to arrive at something new, to be renewed?
This message speaks forcefully to
us today because many people need this experience of Jesus and the experience
of the apostles. Many people, the
second reading affirms, live their lives as enemies of the Cross. Many people, then and more so now,
continue to live in selfishness, indifference and greed. Our lord is the
stomach… and all that’s found below it.
But how will change happen to us?
We cannot change ourselves outside of our physical and superficial appearance.
We cannot build our own bridge to reach God. If change is to happen, it must
come from a deeper source, one that flows from beyond our own efforts. God himself must initiate the change.
Notice a small detail often
overlooked in today’s gospel. It says
that “while Jesus was praying,” he was transfigured. Prayer started this unique experience for Jesus. It was a personal and heartfelt
relationship with the Father that brought him to the summit of this
mountain-top event.
Like Jesus, we will truly
experience real change within us if we plunge into the realm of prayer. This season reminds us that without
prayer we cannot hope to find ourselves delivered from our old ways and into a
new existence. There are many
prayers to help us form a deeper bond with the mystery of the Passion, Death and
Resurrection of Jesus.
Let us explore prayer again. In
this Year of Faith, let us pray for a renewal of love, service and relationship
with God.
