2nd SUNDAY OF LENT (A)

And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.

Mt 17: 1-9

Today’s passage recalls the story of Jesus’ baptism. In both there is a voice; in both the voice says: This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased (Mt 3:17). Both are epiphanies or manifestations of Jesus. They belong to the other manifestation stories of Jesus such as the manifestation to the magi. Epiphany stories about holy men are common in ancient writings. In these stories the veil that hides the invisible and the future is pushed back for a moment in order to reveal what is hidden.

The story of the transfiguration of Jesus may be the earliest epiphany stories about Jesus, older than the Baptism of Jesus, the Visit of the Magi and the Visit of the Shepherds.

Some have suggested that that behind the Transfiguration story was really the story of the appearance of the Resurrected Christ which tradition had somehow misunderstood. Others offer the opinion that behind the Transfiguration was a mystical experience that we encounter in the lives of the Saints.

In the Transfiguration story what is revealed is the glory of the Son of Man when he comes at the end of the age (Mt 16:27f). In Mt 26:17ff he will take the same three disciples to reveal something to them again. This time it is the meaning of his death and resurrection, which is his obedience to the Father’s will.

v. 1 - After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

After six days – The precise note of time links this paragraph (Transfigura-tion) with the previous sayings – Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (Mt 16:21-23) and the cost of discipleship (Mt 16:24-28).

Precise notes of time are something unusual in the Synoptic gospels with the exception of the account of his last days in Jerusalem and of the Passion.

The mention of six days may allude to Ex 24:16ff where it is written: “The glory of the LORD settled upon Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days, and on the seventh day he called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.”

Peter, James and John seem to form the inner circle of Jesus’ apostles. He brings them with him in Gethsemane (Mt 26:17) and to the healing of Jairus daughter (Mk 5:37).

v. 2 - And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.

Metemorphothe means ‘changed, transfigured’. Paul spoke of this event in 2 Cor 3. He used the same word in order to speak of the change Christians are undergoing now and which will be completed at the end of this age (2Cor 3:18).

The face of Jesus shines just as when the Kingdom comes, the righteous will shine like the sun (Mt 13:43).

His garments become white as light. The book of Revelation describes the army of angels who will accompany Jesus at the end of the world has arrayed in fine linen, white and pure (Rev 19:14).

v. 3 - And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.

Moses and Elijah appear. The Jews believed that they were taken up to heaven and did not go down to Sheol, the abode of the dead. They were expected to return to earth before the Messiah. They embody the Law and the Prophets. They are also the two witnesses described in Rev 11:3ff.

v. 4 - Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

In Matthew the disciples address Jesus as Lord. Only Judas Iscariot calls him Master (Rabbi).

Peter may want to make permanent a vision that was meant to be temporary.

v. 5 - While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

The cloud is a sign of divine presence in Exodus.

Overshadowed (epeskiasen) is used of the cloud covering the tent of meeting in Ex 40:35.

The declaration of the voice is similar to that made at his Baptism (Mt 3:17).The voice of God from the bright cloud tells the disciples that Jesus is the Son, the fulfillment of the OT expectations. He is the one to be heard by men because he is the Judge on the last day.

v. 6-7 - When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid."

This is similar to the experience of Daniel (Dan 10:5-12).

v. 9 - As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

The disciples are not to speak of the glory of the Son of Man which they have seen until after the resurrection. At that time they will preach it to the Church to warn and to encourage.

In Matthew this is the fifth and last time when Jesus commands them to keep silent. Mt 8:4 is an instance when Matthew commands silence .