Homily 2nd Sunday of Lent 2021

The transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain was an important moment for Jesus and for the disciples that accompanied him. To grasp how significant it was, we must recall what had happened before. Jesus had spoken to his disciples about his coming rejection, suffering and death at the hands of the authorities. On top of that he had told them: if you want to be a disciple, take up your cross and follow me!

No doubt, these words of Jesus must have shocked the disciples and have made them wonder: who is this man? Are we making a mistake by following him? So we can try to imagine their state of mind while they are going up the mountain.

What happened on the mountain? Can we explain what happened? Was it a vision? A mystical experience? How long did it last?

What is sure: the events on the mountain transformed both Jesus and the disciples. They went down the mountain as different people. While the going up was hard, physically and mentally, the going down was different; the darkness and doubts in their hearts had been transformed into light and love and determination. Jesus was confirmed in his mission and the disciples were confirmed in their call to follow Jesus.

What did the events on the mountain reveal?

When Jesus was transfigured, and his clothes became brilliantly white, the disciples were granted a glimpse of Jesus in his heavenly state.

When the great figures of the Old Testament, Elijah and Moses, are in conversation with Jesus, and later disappear again, the disciples understand that Jesus is not just an one-off preacher; he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, the Messiah promised by the prophets.

And when God speaks from the cloud, saying: This is my son, the beloved, listen to Him, Jesus is confirmed in the  Father's love for him. And the disciples understand that to follow Jesus is the only way.

The events on the mountain reveal that Jesus will be victorious. Despite rejection, suffering and the cross, Jesus will be victorious.

Today's gospel tells us that we, Jesus' disciples, will be victorious too. With Jesus, united with Jesus, clinging to Jesus, we will be victorious too.

No doubt there are crosses in people's lives: there are so many crosses caused by the pandemic:  people who cannot visit their elderly parents in care homes, elderly people who must go without the visits of those they love, grandparents and grandchildren who are not able to meet and hug one another, people who are not able to attend the funeral of a parent or relative, uncertainties about the future....

Jesus and the disciples were transfigured by the light and love they experienced coming from God.

On this day may God transfigure us as well with his light and love.

And may we transfigure each other by sharing God's light and love.

Ferdinand Van Campen