Second Sunday of Lent
(March 8th, 2020)
Matthew 17 : 1 - 9
Homily from Redemptor Mundi Church by Father Filemon de la Cruz Jr., OP
The Transfiguration is a beautiful experience for the disciples, before the Transfiguration how ever Jesus started to speak about His upcoming passion, suffering and death. It is a struggle for the apostles to accept this, so when we see the transfiguration against this background we could appreciate it more. The Lenten journey is a journey into darkness, it is a dark period, just like the apostles we need to confront things in our life. It is a darkness of ignorance, our inadequacy to comprehend the mystery of the person of Jesus, it is the darkness of betrayal and denial of Judas and Peter, it is a darkness of pain and suffering. It is real, what do we do? Fear easily takes over, when these things happens we turn our backs from others and God, we stop praying and starting to blame others, God and ourselves. The Transfiguration happens in the midst of discouragement and struggles, they were given a glimpse of the glory of God so they have the courage to go on, especially when they heard the voice from God, it reminds them and us to not doubt He remains God's beloved son in the midst of the pain and suffering. We should listen to Jesus a voice of one who loves, it will give us courage, inspiration and truth in life that is full of doubts, suffering and pain. We allow the word of God to penetrate our being to shine a light in our darkness and fear. When we pass to darkness we need to listen and be faithful to the Lord, and the Lord will say rise and do not fear.
