Gen. 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps. 27:1, 7-9, 13-14; Phil. 3:17—4:1; Lk. 9:28b-36

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a revelation of the glory of God in the person of Jesus true God and true man “listen to Him”.  It is also a revelation that not only is Elijah and Moses alive in heaven but all those called to sainthood who responded in this life by giving up their mortal life in this world for the eternal one to come at the end of life.  When the Holy Spirit comes, we enter into the transfiguration to be holy as priest, prophet and king.  Today we are the ones being called to holiness, to be transformed into the image of Christ, to walk transfigured as the light in the darkness of the world. 

The transfiguration of Abram began as he put “his faith in the Lord…as an act of righteousness.”  Abram’s transfiguration came as he obeyed the Lord bringing forth the sacrificial gifts commanded of him.  Abram fell into a “trance” and in the darkness of the night “there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” and God made “a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”  If we desire the same change in our lives to receive the promise then it begins with our obedience to the sacraments of the church to who the keys to the kingdom were given.  In them we bring the gift of ourselves as the sacrifice just as Jesus gave witness by his obedience and sacrifice of himself on the cross.  We are to take up our cross and follow in his footsteps and be transformed into his image.

St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians reminds us that many “conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction.”  He invites us to be “imitators” of him who is the imitator of Christ.  The transfiguration of our mortal self from death to life will never come from “being occupied with earthly things.”  It can only give testimony to our “shame”.  Jesus will “change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body” and we will be like him transfigured into the glorified state of heaven.  Our call this day is to enter into the discipline of Lent with the goal of transforming our minds, hearts and bodies.  The Lord provides the channel of grace through fasting, abstinence and alms giving. 

The transfiguration of our bodies through fasting is a purging of the habit of indulgence of the flesh to rule our bodies and not be ruled by the hunger of the body.  The transfiguration of our heart is through abstinence from sin and the near temptation to sin that our eyes may gaze upon the passion of the Lord and not on our earthly passions.  The transfiguration of the mind is through our almsgiving that we may focus on the needs of others and by our generosity receive the reward of heaven.  We are invited to be transfigured by transforming our very self into the image of Christ as we offer our very self up to him and pray “let thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 

The transfiguration of Jesus came prior to his death and resurrection as a sign of hope and a calling that we are not to wait for death to enter holiness.  Holiness is to be our walk with Jesus this day.  Holiness manifests itself as a “servant” of Jesus willing to take up our cross and follow to the land of “milk and honey”, the promise land into the kingdom of God.  This comes to us when we do as God the Father says to Peter, John and James “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”  Are we listening?  Lent is a call to increase our listening by prayer, study of the Word, and worship in fellowship as the body of Christ in the celebration of the Mass.  We listen to the voice of God in the liturgy and the word of knowledge sends us forth to do the works of the Lord. 

Jesus speaks to our soul as our mind is stilled to listen, our heart burns with understanding, and we are moved to right action.  By the Lord’s grace we come to know him, love him and serve him.  Let us call upon Jesus Christ to receive his grace and be transformed into his image and we will join in the chorus of the saints “The Lord is my light and my salvation” in him do I live, move, and celebrate with the angels and the saints.  Our transfiguration is a deepening of our faith, hope and love.  By deepening ourselves in Christ we become detached to the offering of the world that is transient and we are focused on what is salvific and eternal.  Jesus saves!  Our destiny is eternal.  Lent calls us to examine ourselves, our priorities, and our purpose in living and see where are we headed. 

The path of righteousness is a choice.  Choose life, choose love, choose Jesus and all other gifts will follow.  Lent is a time to prepare our “toolbox” for overcoming this world.  Jesus comes in the transfiguration from the old self to the redeemed self.  In him we are saved! Listen to him and be saved.