“Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here,”

Gen 12:1-4; Ps32:4-5. 18-22; 1Tim 1:8-10; Mat 17:1-9

Today’s Gospel brings us to the mountain of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, and there He is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun. His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him. And the voice of the Father declares: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

This moment comes at a critical time. Just before this, Jesus had told His disciples that He will suffer, be rejected, and be killed. The shadow of the cross is already falling across their path. The Transfiguration is given to strengthen them, to prepare them for scandal, fear, and doubt.

In our first reading, God calls Abram: “Go from your country… to the land that I will show you.” Abram is asked to leave what is familiar, secure, and comfortable. He is promised blessing, but not a map. He must walk by faith. That same pattern appears in the Gospel. The disciples are brought up the mountain and allowed to see glory, but they will soon have to walk down into confusion and suffering. Lent is our mountain and our journey at the same time. We are called to leave behind what is comfortable: habits of sin, indifference, spiritual laziness. Like Abraham, we are told: “Go.” Trust. Step forward.

Why does Jesus reveal His glory? Because faith needs hope. The disciples will soon see Him arrested, beaten, crucified. On Calvary, there will be no shining face, no radiant garments, only blood and darkness. The memory of this mountain will have to sustain them. So too in our lives. There are moments of clarity, times when prayer feels alive, when God seems close, when love is strong and hope is bright. Those are “Transfiguration moments.” They are not meant to be permanent; they are meant to prepare us. We often want to stay on the mountain. Peter says, “Lord, it is good that we are here.” He wants to build tents, to freeze the moment. But Jesus leads them back down. Faith does not remain in consolations. It matures in perseverance.

The Father’s command is simple and direct: “Listen to Him.” Not admire Him. Not merely study Him. Not selectively agree with Him. He said “Listen to Him.” Listen when He says, “Take up your cross.” Listen when He says, “Love your enemies.” Listen when He says, “Do not be afraid.” In the second reading, St. Paul reminds Timothy that we are called “not according to our works but according to His purpose and grace.” The Christian life is not self-improvement; it is transformation. The same Christ who was transfigured on the mountain desires to transfigure us from fear to courage, from selfishness to love, from sin to holiness.

The Second Sunday of Lent always gives us the Transfiguration. Why? Because Lent is not just about penance; it is about destiny. The cross is real, but so is glory. Sacrifice is real, but so is resurrection. The Father reveals the glory of the Son so that we will not lose heart when we meet the cross. Abraham had to leave his homeland. The apostles had to leave the mountain. We must leave behind sin. But none of this leaving is empty. Every act of trust opens into promise.

Peter’s statement: “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here,” is interesting. No, it was not yet time to rest or enter the fullness of this glory.  The transfiguration drama reminds us that we shall be among the triumphant church if we work hard and remain faithful to God’s call and command. This glory is only a glimpse of the future glory of our final destination.

So, to share in Christ’s glory, we must first walk with him to Calvary. Also, if we want to share in Abraham’s blessings and praise, we must instead be ready to “leave something” behind (Gen 12). If we want a double portion of Elijah’s anointing and spirit, first, we must contend with and overcome the Jezebel and Ahab of our time (IKg 19). If we want the prophetic power and glory of Moses, first, we must struggle against and overcome the Pharaoh of this earthly kingdom (Ex 6: 13). Today’s glory should serve as the “activation energy” that motivates us to walk toward our final destination. The journey is not yet over, and honestly, not easy. However, Christ is with us. So, He encourages and tells us: “Do not be afraid!”

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask for three graces: The courage of Abraham to step forward in faith. The attentiveness of the apostles to listen to the Son. The hope to remember that beyond every Good Friday lies Easter morning. And when we come down from this mountain, may we carry within us the quiet certainty that the One who walks with us toward the cross is already radiant with glory.