The Transfiguration - 2nd Sunday in Lent (A)
Peter found it hard to listen to Jesus when the
great man seemed to want to talk about his arrest, torment and execution. “This will never happen to you, Lord!” He spoke from love and respect, throwing in all his courage and generosity in an
offer to prevent any such bad thing happening. If he were English he would have said: “God forbid!” That is the point. We often think God should forbid things that he actually allows to happen. “You think as men think, not as God
thinks!” says Jesus in rebuke.
But if Peter finds it difficult to listen to Jesus when he says hard things, the Father must teach the apostle how to listen. Just six days later, Jesus takes him and the brothers, James and John, up Mt Tabor where he is made glorious in their sight. Elijah and Moses appear, representing the authority of the scriptures (knowns as ‘The Law and the Prophets’ in Jesus’ day). Jesus himself will repeat this teaching method after the resurrection on the road to Emmaus when he opens the scriptures to the disciples starting with Moses and going all through the prophets, showing them that he had to die and so enter into his glory.
Peter offers to build three tents for them - which is a daft thing to offer. But then we are daft people. We are always offering to do things - good works, more prayers - especially during Lent. Peter will offer a swordfight in Gethsemane, he will infiltrate the enemy headquarters during Jesus trial, and nothing will come of any of it. All that is being asked of him is to listen, and to accept what he hears in perfect trust. The same is asked of us.
“You wanted no sacrifice or cereal offering,
but you gave me an open ear” (Ps 40:6)
The Father, through the scriptures, shows us the glory of Jesus as the king who must die for the people. This Lent let us be a little more still, a little more attentive to the Word of God. Let us listen with an open ear, and full of faith, understand the wisdom of the Lord. Let us hear the Word of God and keep it in our hearts.
