In times of darkness may the Transfiguration of our Lord help us.

GOD’S LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

The story of the Transfiguration in today’s Gospel is a majestic introduction to the Passion and Death of Jesus.  We see God the Father presenting His Beloved Son to the world.  It was witnessed by Moses the Law-giver, Elijah the prophet representing the Old Testament and by the Apostles Peter, James and John representing the New Testament.  It is as if God were saying to the world, 'Look, this is My Beloved Son, whom I am going to sacrifice for your sake.'  God our Father and Jesus His beloved Son could not have loved us any more than they did.

Love is proved by giving.  God proved His love for us by giving all He had, in the person of His Son Jesus.  This is God’s answer to us when suffering comes our way and we are tempted to scream, 'Why, O why, should this happen to me?'  When we turn our eyes to the crucifix, we find the answer, and then our speech is reduced to an awesome silence before the mystery of God’s love.

Another reason why the Transfiguration is put before us today is that it encourages us to persevere faithfully in the face of suffering.  The Lord wanted Peter, James and John to experience the vision of His glory so that, in due course, when confronted with the scandal of His crucifixion, they would not lose faith but persevere in their commitment to Him.

So, it is with us.  In life God sometimes gives us fleeting glimpses of His glory, ecstatic moments which remind us of that glory which awaits us at the end.  This is done so that, in times of trial and discouragement, we can persevere steadfastly by keeping our eyes fixed on the glorious end.

During this season of Lent, too, when we may begin to lose our enthusiasm and feel tempted to go back on our Lenten resolutions, let us hold on to the Lord by keeping before us the memory of the Transfiguration.

Heavenly Father, how generously You proved Your love for us by allowing Your only begotten Son to sacrifice His life on the Cross.  During this Lent, through our acts of prayer, penance and almsgiving may we lay down our lives for You.  May the mystery of the Transfiguration put new heart in us when clouds of darkness enter our lives.

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