Second Sunday of Lent, The Transfiguration of Jesus

By Msgr Michael de Verteuil

Chair, Liturgical Commission

The Scripture readings (as well as the prayers of the Masses) in the different seasons of the Church year tell us something about the meaning and spirituality of the season. With this in mind, here in this series is a brief look at the Gospels of the Sundays of this year’s Lent. We bear in mind that the Church sees Lent as a preparation for Easter at which we celebrate the Resurrection and renew our baptismal promises, saying yes again to God and to the covenant God has offered us.

The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mt 17:1–9) is a reminder to us of the journey of our lives—to arrive one day at our own transfiguration—and the purpose of this Lent is to help us to this transfiguration as we seek to overcome our sins, helped by prayer, fasting and good works.

Read during Lent, this passage reminds us of the journey of our lives: overcoming our sins until we too are transfigured. At Easter we will renew our baptismal commitment and those in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) will be baptised. We prepare for this by hearing the words of the Father, “Listen to him,” and acting on that by examining ourselves in the light of Jesus’ teaching.

Listen to Him because He has the words of eternal life. Listen because the Word is the word of life, a light to guide our path through life, the word of truth. Pope Francis asked what we listened to during the day—music, gossip, news, etc. but to how much of the Word of God do we listen. This is a good Lenten examination for this week as we seek conversion.