The 2nd Sunday of Lent offers an opportunity to reflect on our spiritual journey. We are invited to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, aligning ourselves with the sacrifices of Christ as He made His way toward the Cross. We, too, are called to journey with our Lord along the Way of the Cross, where we must be transformed by selfless and loving sacrifice. In emptying ourselves and letting go of the distractions and roadblocks that blind our view, we begin to see Christ glorified by the great love God has for us. It is in this process that we come to share in His glory.
The Gospel reading for this Sunday asks us to contemplate the mystery of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28b–36). Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain. There, they witness Him in His divine glory, His face shining like the sun, and His clothes dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear with Him, symbolizing the Law and the Prophets, affirming that Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises. The voice of God declares, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to Him.”
This moment is a glimpse of the glory that will follow Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. It offers hope and encouragement, especially for those of us journeying through the Lenten season. Just as the disciples were encouraged by this revelation of Jesus’ divinity, we are reminded that our Lenten sacrifices, while difficult, are not empty. There is a promise of transformation and glory on the other side of our suffering.
This Sunday invites us to listen to Jesus more intently, to follow Him in His path of humility, and to trust that our own struggles, when offered in faith, can lead to deeper communion with Him. The Transfiguration reminds us that we are not alone in our journey. God has revealed His love and glory to us, and as we continue through Lent, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on the promise of the Resurrection that lies ahead.
A key takeaway this Sunday could be the importance of listening to God amidst the distractions of our daily lives. Just as the voice of God spoke to the disciples, we are called to listen deeply to God’s word and allow it to transform our hearts during this Lenten season. Recall the words from the prophet Joel at the start of this Lent, “rend your hearts, not your garments.” We must shed the facades and distractions of worldly affairs that prevent us from seeing Christ and ourselves in the radiant light of His glory.
As the Collect at today’s mass reminds us, may our spiritual sight be pure and our hearing attentive to listening to God’s voice.
Collect:
O God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son, be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word, that, with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
StreetEvangelist 