“As the visions during the night continued ...”

Dear Friends,

We celebrate the Lord’s Transfiguration every year on the second Sunday of Lent, but in some years, the feast falls on a Sunday in Ordinary Time and replaces the liturgy of that Sunday. This is that year, and we have a chance to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ Transfiguration.
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One difference between the annual Lenten encounter with this event and the one we’re celebrating this weekend is the congruence between all three of our Scripture readings. The first reading from the book of Daniel (named not for its unknown author but for its hero), date about 200 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, has, when heard in context with the gospel, two compelling passages which seem clearly to point towards Jesus’ transfiguration 200+ years later:

1. Thrones were set up
   and the Ancient One took his throne.
   His clothing was bright as snow,
   and the hair on his head as white as wool;
   his throne was flames of fire,
   with wheels of burning fire.
   
   
   
2. I saw: One like a Son of man coming,
   on the clouds of heaven;
   When he reached the Ancient One
   and was presented before him,
   The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship​

It always strikes me as remarkable when an ancient prophecy is so clearly fulfilled in Jesus! As you’ll recall, in the Gospel, Jesus takes his closest disciples (friends) Peter, James and John, up the mountain with him and they witness his Transfiguration and hear the voice of the Father identifying Who Jesus is (my beloved Son) and what the disciples are to do (listen to him). The first thing Jesus tells the disciples is “Rise, and do not be afraid.”

And, while the second reading is often only loosely related to the first and to the Gospel, on this feast, it is very closely related. Most notably, it’s written by one who was there at the Transfiguration – Peter, himself:


        We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
        while we were with him on the holy mountain.
        Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
        You will do well to be attentive to it,
        as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
        until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
    

What is the prophetic message to which Peter refers?
It is the Paschal Mystery that we celebrate every Sunday in the Mass: the saving Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word Made Flesh, the Morning Star, Emmanuel, God-With-Us.

​Siempre Adelante,


Dominic MacAller
Worship Minister 

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