March 1, 2015: Second Sunday of Lent

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, as no one on earth could make them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my Beloved; listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them—only Jesus.

As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Chosen One of God had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. (Mark 9:2-10)

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is “transfigured”: the light and love of God shine through Jesus in a way visible to his special disciples, and the Creator calls Jesus, “my Beloved.” Every Sunday in the liturgy we hear that God “creates all things and makes them holy.” We are made holy by the Creator God. With Jesus, we are beloveds of God, too, through communion with Jesus and with the Holy Spirit we were given in baptism.

Action:

I thank God for giving me life and light and for calling me a beloved one. I think about how my family and friends see me. Are there ways I sometimes behave that make it harder for them to see the brightness of God’s light in me? Jesus tells us to obey the commandments, especially to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbor, because they are beloved ones too. If I am angry, stubborn, or selfish, then it is harder for others to see God’s light in my life. I ask Jesus to teach me, and I will listen to him, as the friends of Jesus were told to listen to him.