Father Koch: The Transfiguration awakens us to the promise of the life to come
March 14, 2025 at 11:24 a.m.
Gospel reflection for March 16, 2025, Second Sunday of Lent
Jesus takes Peter, James and John away from the other disciples and takes them to the top of a mountain, the disciples promptly fall asleep. They awake to encounter a foretaste of the promise of the Kingdom in the presence of Elijah and Moses. Sometimes we need a reminder of the fullness of the promise and to be jarred awake so that we might see more clearly what the Lord is offering to us. Asleep we fall into the world of our own imagining and can drift through life unaware, not fully present to the task at hand. When we are roused from our spiritual sleep we encounter the awe of God’s presence leading us along the path of life.
Peter, James and John likely had no idea why Jesus took them apart from the others to make the arduous trek to the top of this mountain. One would have to expect that Jesus said something to them to prepare for what was about to happen, though nothing of that is recorded in the Scriptures. The other nine left at the base of the mount, likely had their own questions as to why they were not included.
Arriving at the top of the mountain the three wearied disciples fell into a deep sleep. It is likely that this is more than the sleep of exhaustion given the steep and difficult climb that Mount Tabor is; nor is this probably the usual afternoon siesta which was a daily event in their lives. Much like the sleep that overwhelmed Abraham as he prepared for the encounter with the Lord, the disciples were cast into a sleep that prepared them for the revelation to come.
The First Reading draws our focus to Moses as he encountered God on the side of Mount Horeb. Moses was merely going about his daily business and had no known experience with God prior to this moment. Jethro, his father-in-law, was a priest in Midian, so Moses participated in the sacrifices and rituals associated with whichever cult he practiced.
Tending sheep was a mindless task. Alone in the wilderness for days on end, the shepherd can get lulled into complacency. Moses likely thought that at first he was experiencing a crazy desert image -- a bush that was on fire but not burning. Obviously, something was askew there. Investigating the simple, but unusual occurrence, Moses experienced a life, and history, transforming moment.
The disciples atop Mount Tabor knew the account of Moses well. This is part of their annual reflection at Pesach as they recounted the story of the movement from slavery to freedom and the possession of the Promised Land.
Through Moses the Israelites received the Law. This was the first promise of salvation and laid the foundation for what was to come. Beginning with Elijah, the prophets announced the judgment of God, and the promise of the continuation of the covenant. From this tradition springs the messianic expectation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises along the path of the history of the chosen people.
The disciples present at the mount are heirs of this covenant. They are following Jesus because they know the promises and seek to grow deeper in their understanding of the covenant and in living that covenanted life. The teaching of Jesus has filled them with a deeper understanding of how that covenant will be fulfilled in him and in the time to come. They as yet do not understand the implications of that promise, and particularly they have yet to grasp that the covenantal promise required the shedding of the blood of Jesus, and yes, eventually, even their own.
Awakening from their sleep, they did not know what to make of what they saw. Peter knows it is covenantal, and wants to build three booths, reminiscent of the celebration of sukkot which recalls the covenant of Sinai. He looked backwards, and did not apprehend that the image before him -- a transfigured Jesus along with Moses and Elijah -- was pointing forward. We are not celebrating the old covenant for here we see the image of its completion, rather Jesus, Moses, and Elijah point to the promise of the covenant to come. Then all will be fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God will stand for all eternity.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
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Gospel reflection for March 16, 2025, Second Sunday of Lent
Jesus takes Peter, James and John away from the other disciples and takes them to the top of a mountain, the disciples promptly fall asleep. They awake to encounter a foretaste of the promise of the Kingdom in the presence of Elijah and Moses. Sometimes we need a reminder of the fullness of the promise and to be jarred awake so that we might see more clearly what the Lord is offering to us. Asleep we fall into the world of our own imagining and can drift through life unaware, not fully present to the task at hand. When we are roused from our spiritual sleep we encounter the awe of God’s presence leading us along the path of life.
Peter, James and John likely had no idea why Jesus took them apart from the others to make the arduous trek to the top of this mountain. One would have to expect that Jesus said something to them to prepare for what was about to happen, though nothing of that is recorded in the Scriptures. The other nine left at the base of the mount, likely had their own questions as to why they were not included.
Arriving at the top of the mountain the three wearied disciples fell into a deep sleep. It is likely that this is more than the sleep of exhaustion given the steep and difficult climb that Mount Tabor is; nor is this probably the usual afternoon siesta which was a daily event in their lives. Much like the sleep that overwhelmed Abraham as he prepared for the encounter with the Lord, the disciples were cast into a sleep that prepared them for the revelation to come.
The First Reading draws our focus to Moses as he encountered God on the side of Mount Horeb. Moses was merely going about his daily business and had no known experience with God prior to this moment. Jethro, his father-in-law, was a priest in Midian, so Moses participated in the sacrifices and rituals associated with whichever cult he practiced.
Tending sheep was a mindless task. Alone in the wilderness for days on end, the shepherd can get lulled into complacency. Moses likely thought that at first he was experiencing a crazy desert image -- a bush that was on fire but not burning. Obviously, something was askew there. Investigating the simple, but unusual occurrence, Moses experienced a life, and history, transforming moment.
The disciples atop Mount Tabor knew the account of Moses well. This is part of their annual reflection at Pesach as they recounted the story of the movement from slavery to freedom and the possession of the Promised Land.
Through Moses the Israelites received the Law. This was the first promise of salvation and laid the foundation for what was to come. Beginning with Elijah, the prophets announced the judgment of God, and the promise of the continuation of the covenant. From this tradition springs the messianic expectation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises along the path of the history of the chosen people.
The disciples present at the mount are heirs of this covenant. They are following Jesus because they know the promises and seek to grow deeper in their understanding of the covenant and in living that covenanted life. The teaching of Jesus has filled them with a deeper understanding of how that covenant will be fulfilled in him and in the time to come. They as yet do not understand the implications of that promise, and particularly they have yet to grasp that the covenantal promise required the shedding of the blood of Jesus, and yes, eventually, even their own.
Awakening from their sleep, they did not know what to make of what they saw. Peter knows it is covenantal, and wants to build three booths, reminiscent of the celebration of sukkot which recalls the covenant of Sinai. He looked backwards, and did not apprehend that the image before him -- a transfigured Jesus along with Moses and Elijah -- was pointing forward. We are not celebrating the old covenant for here we see the image of its completion, rather Jesus, Moses, and Elijah point to the promise of the covenant to come. Then all will be fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God will stand for all eternity.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.