Reflection on the transfiguration of Jesus - Second Sunday of Lent - Cycle B - Mark 9:2-10

       Our daily lives are filled with a routine and a lot of daily tasks.  In our daily lives, sometimes, without knowing it, or even when we are aware of it, we can get locked into our own world, our particular situation, and our daily routine. We can forget about or lose sight of the fact that we are part of a much bigger world, a bigger reality, and a universal community of faith. 

       In the Gospel today, in our celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus, Jesus takes some of his apostles away from their daily routine, inviting them to go with him up a mountaintop.  Although, on the surface, this does not seem unusual, became Jesus sometimes goes off to places like the mountains to pray and to get away. Jesus became transfigured before the apostles, which is something special and unusual.  He clothing became as white as light.   Imagine the surprise and the shock on the part of the apostles. Most importantly, the apostles heard a voice from the clouds say: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”  These words are meant for us to hear today as well.  Today, we are bombarded by so much noise and so many messages in the world.  We have 24 hours news programs, 24 hour internet, and 24 hour social media. We have smart phones that link us to so many things instantly.  News from around the world arrives in seconds to us. We hear so much news, but a lot of it is not good news.  Some of it is not even real news. So much of what we hear in the media today is slanted opinion, not objective fact.  The word and message that Jesus speaks to us and offers us today are life-giving and life-changing. The words of Jesus are there to nourish us, to nurture us, and to sustain us.  However, we need to open our hearts and our lives to hearing his words and the message contained therein. Yes, it is only the Lord who has the message of eternal life.  

      As we hear the Gospel of the transfiguration today, we are in the midst of challenging reality, that is for sure.  However, there are many blessings in our lives as well.  There are blessings that have come with the pandemic.  We have to be open to seeing those blessings.