Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle B February 25, 2018

FIRST READING
Genesis 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18
Abraham obeyed God and prepared to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 116:10,15,16-17,18-19
A prayer of faithfulness to God

SECOND READING
Romans 8:31b-34
God's faithfulness is shown in his offering of his own Son for our
salvation.

GOSPEL READING
Jesus is transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John.

GOSPEL MK 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.

BACKGROUND ON THE GOSPEL READING

On the second Sunday of Lent in each Lectionary cycle, the Gospel
reading proclaims the story of Jesus' Transfiguration. This event is
reported in each of the Synoptic Gospels--Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This
year, in Lectionary Cycle B, we hear Mark's report of this event.

The context for Mark's Transfiguration story is similar to that found in
both Matthew's and Luke's Gospel. The Transfiguration occurs after
Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus' prediction about
his passion. After this, in each of these Gospels, there is also a
discussion of the cost of discipleship.

In each case, Jesus takes three of his disciples--Peter, James, and
John--to a high mountain. While they are there, Elijah and Moses appear
with Jesus. In Matthew's and Mark's Gospel, there is reference to a
conversation among Jesus, Elijah, and Moses, but only Luke's Gospel
includes the detail that this conversation is about what Jesus will
accomplish in Jerusalem.

Elijah and Moses are significant figures in the history of Israel. Moses
led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and received from Yahweh the
Ten Commandments. In appearing with Jesus at his Transfiguration, Moses
represents the Law that guides the lives of the Jewish people. Elijah is
remembered as one of the most important prophets of Israel who helped
the Israelites stay faithful to Yahweh. Some Jews believed that Elijah's
return would signal the coming of the Messiah for the Jewish people.
This belief is evidenced in the question posed by Jesus' disciples after
they have witnessed the Transfiguration. The appearance of these two
important figures from Israel's history with Jesus signifies Jesus'
continuity with the Law and with the prophets and that Jesus is the
fulfillment of all that was promised to the people of Israel.

On seeing Jesus with Elijah and Moses and having witnessed his
Transfiguration, Peter offers to construct three tents for them. Mark
reports that the disciples are terrified by what they have witnessed and
that Peter's offer is made out of confusion. We also notice that Peter
has reverted from his earlier confession that Jesus is the Messiah,
calling Jesus rabbi instead. As if in reply to Peter's confusion, a
voice from heaven speaks, affirming Jesus as God's Son and commanding
the disciples to obey him. This voice from heaven recalls the voice that
was heard at Jesus' baptism.

In his Transfiguration, we see an anticipation of the glory of Jesus'
Resurrection. In each of the reports of the Transfiguration, Jesus
instructs the disciples to keep secret what they have seen until after
the Son of Man has risen from the dead. The disciples' confusion
continues as they wonder what Jesus means by rising from the dead. The
disciples cannot possibly understand Jesus' Transfiguration until they
also witness his passion and death. We hear the story of Jesus'
Transfiguration early in Lent, but we have the benefit of hindsight. In
our hearing of it, we anticipate Jesus' Resurrection, even as we prepare
to remember Jesus' passion and death.

FAMILY CONNECTION

Every family has special moments that they remember and share again and
again. In sharing these stories, the meaning and importance of these
events develop and deepen over time. This is how it was with the
disciples' remembrance of Jesus' Transfiguration. The full significance
of what they had seen and experienced could only be understood after
Jesus' death and Resurrection. As they told other believers about this
event and recorded the story for us in the Bible, our understanding of
what it means to call Jesus God's own Son has also deepened.

As you gather as a family, think about some special family memories that
your family tells over and over again. Talk about why these memories are
important to you. Recall that in the Bible we find many important
memories about Jesus that have been recorded for us so that we can
believe that Jesus is God's Son. Read today's Gospel, Mark 9:2-10. What
do we learn about Jesus from this Gospel? (He fulfills the promises God
made to Israel through the Law and the prophets. God glorified Jesus in
his Resurrection. Jesus is God's Son.) Conclude in prayer together that
as we continue to read the Bible, we will deepen our understanding of
and our love for Jesus. Pray together the Lord's Prayer.

Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings