Rise and Do Not Be Afraid
To All,
Just as the Gospel reading for the First Sunday of Lent is the account of the temptation of Jesus in the desert, the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent is the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. As it was last Sunday, our Gospel reading is taken from Matthew’s account (Matthew 17:1-9).
As in Mark’s and Luke’s account, Jesus goes up a mountain with Peter, James and John. Before them He is transfigured – His face shines “like the sun” and his clothes become “white as light.” Appearing on the mountain are Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. While they are conversing with Jesus, Peter offers to make three tents for them to stay: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. While Peter is speaking, a cloud overshadows where they are, and a voice from the cloud says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The disciples become afraid and fall to the ground. In Matthew’s account Jesus touches them and says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” Then He tells them not to mention this to anyone “until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
What struck me was the verse that is unique to Matthew’s account: Jesus touches the disciples and says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
Can we let Jesus touch our hearts this Lent and lift us up? Can we open our hearts and rise up from fear and hate, especially of those we consider “other?” Can we let go of fear and reach out to those in need? Very soon after Jesus and the three disciples come down the mountain, Jesus is asked to drive out an unclean spirit from a young boy (Matthew 17:14-20).
If we have been blessed with a “mountaintop experience” of God’s love and presence, we may be tempted to hold on to that experience, or use a lot of energy to try to recapture it once it is gone. But even though Peter James and John got a glimpse of Jesus in His glory, He still had to carry His Cross before the Resurrection. It is the same with us. Maybe the “transfiguration” to which we are called to open ourselves isn’t so much about living in glory, but in trusting in the love of God for us in Jesus Christ, to be willing, as Abram was in our first reading (Genesis 12:1-4a), to go where God sends us, to carry the crosses that come when we choose to love as Jesus did, and to work to help build up the kingdom.
May we open ourselves to transfiguration, and let God use us to help transfigure the world.
I welcome any questions or comments. Thanks for your time.
In Christ,
Phil, CP
