Gospel Mark 9:2-10

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,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“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 Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Reflection by Br. Paul Avvento – Novice

Paul Avvento

Manhattan College graduate, Lasallian Volunteer alum, Paul has served the Lasallian mission in different capacities, and is currently in his Novitiate year of discernment to the Brothers’ Institute.

The Gospel of Mark often reads like a novel, with events happening in rapid succession, and themes building from story to story. The passages preceding the Transfiguration begin to reveal Jesus’ true identity to his disciples. Prior to this story, Jesus asks his disciples “But who do you say that I am?” to which Peter responds “You are the Messiah.” Jesus then, as he does here, instructs his disciples not to say anything.

  • Reflect: Who do you say Jesus is? Is your answer consistent with the words and actions of your daily life? What might you do this Lenten season to more closely align your words and actions with your beliefs?

For years this message of not saying anything frustrated me. Why, I thought, wouldn’t Jesus want this amazing story, this incredible message to be shared? If he came to share the good news, wouldn’t he want his disciples to share these messages and stories as well? As I reflect on the Transfiguration, Jesus’ motives become a little clearer.

Six days before Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the high mountain he was with many of his disciples. After they descend from the mountain they return to the disciples. It is telling that Jesus could have taken all his disciples with Him, yet he only chose these three. This is the fully human Jesus choosing, based on his relationship and knowledge of his disciples the three that were ready and called to witness the fully Divine Jesus on the mountain top.

  • Reflect: Who are the people in your life that you include in the most personal moments of your life? Do you take time to let them know how much they mean to you?

That Peter was one of the disciples Jesus chose would not surprise us, given the prominent role Jesus chose for Peter as rock of the Church. It is profound, however, considering that shortly before the Transfiguration Jesus poignantly commanded to Peter “Get behind me, Satan.” In one of Peter’s many relatable moments, we see a disciple who is open to receiving God’s word, but also struggles with his human tendencies. While Jesus rebukes Peter, he does not allow Peter’s sinfulness to prevent him from witnessing Jesus’ divinity. That is as true for each of us as it was for Peter. Nothing can prevent God from sharing His greatness with us.

  • Reflect: In what ways do we try to prevent God from sharing His greatness with us? What walls do we build between us and God? Why? During this Lenten season we are called to reflect on what changes we can make in our lives that will break down these walls we’ve made for ourselves to allow our relationship with God to become more full.

Mark describes Jesus’ clothing as “dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.” This is a revelation to his disciples, and a reminder to us, that absolutely nothing on earth can compare to anything from God. Even something as simple and mundane as clothing can be transformed by God. If this is what God can do to clothing, imagine what He can do to our souls!

  • Reflect: How often do we seek worldly possessions to bring us the transformation and joy that can only come from God? What can you seek less of this Lenten season, to allow you to more fully seek God?

“Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Perhaps the most concise statement in the Gospel: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” How often do we believe the first part, but fail to follow the second part? How often do we feel the need to seek input or advice from almost anyone or anything but the Gospel? How easy it is for us to search for signs in our lives, or to read every advice column under the sun, when the answer to our most significant questions is right under our nose. “Listen to him.” Each and everyday we are given plenty of opportunities to listen to Jesus, either in prayer or in scripture. It is up to us, especially in this Lenten season to look, to listen, and to respond.

After the disciples heard this, Elijah and Moses vanish. This is, once again, a beautiful illustration of the law and prophesy from the Old Testament being fulfilled by Jesus. The new and everlasting covenant does not rely on prophets, but on the eternal sacrifice that Jesus offered on our behalf on Good Friday. He is all that we need.

As they return down the mountain Jesus instructs them to keep quiet until after his resurrection. This brings us back to the message that had given me much trouble throughout my life. Why?

Perhaps the way that Jesus revealed his true self to his disciples is the same way that he reveals himself to us today. As our Founder remarked, God led him “in an imperceptible way and over a long period of time.” The knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah was revealed to Peter, because God knew that Peter and the disciples were ready for this message, but that others were not. Similarly, Jesus knew that Peter, John, and James were ready to witness the Transfiguration, but others were not. This is a reminder to us that we are all at different points on our journey to enter a full relationship with God. This relationship does not rely on success or accomplishments. Rather, it relies on faith.

We are very much called to share the Gospel message with all we encounter, while trusting that true revelation is solely in God’s hands. It is this trust in God that will provide the fruit for our labors. We may be the messengers that God has called, but we must be ever mindful that it is His message, and it will be received on God’s time, not ours. I leave you with one of my favorite prayers, which identifies this holy and sacred relationship of discipleship and trust in God.

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

  • Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

I pray that this Lenten season may strengthen your relationship with Christ and bring you ever closer to him.