THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
Reflection for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 28, 2021
Mark 9:2-9
By: The Rev. Sherryl Javier-Bianson
Mission of Krus na Ligas, Diliman, Quezon City
In this Gospel according to Mark, Jesus together with Peter, James and John went to the mountain. When they got there, He was transfigured before them. Why did Jesus go to the mountain? Was He called by God to go to the mountain? Perhaps, there was a call from God for Jesus to go to the mountain so that God could further strengthen Him as He neared His passion in order for Him to remain obedient and focused in His salvific mission.
So what was this transfiguration especially as related to us? We are called to that same life in communion with the Lord as Moses and Elijah did. God calls us to give our self-sacrificial love to the Body of Christ just as Abraham did with his own son, his most precious gift from God. When we love God above all else, then that agape love will lead us to uplift our neighbors, and thus forming and transforming ourselves and each other in love. That redirects not just our faith but our lives, putting us in service to Him rather than only asking Him to provide service to us.
We are called to live in the Trinitarian life, one that will transfigure us to become true children of God, through the one authority of Jesus Christ. When that happens, we will have no need to build tents because we will already be at home. In the transfiguration of Jesus we are made aware of the reality of heaven, the reality of heavenly life, and the reality of God’s existence.
On the other hand, we are also being confronted with the present realities of our earthly journey; i.e., that life in this world is not easy, and that it’s full of trials and sacrifices. Nevertheless, we should not allow these hardships, trials, and sacrifices to distract us from reaching our ultimate goal which is to be with God in heaven someday. The trials that we are presently facing and would be facing in the future are tests of our fidelity towards God. If we would be able to pass all these tests, surely there will be a reward, that is our everlasting life in heaven someday.
