Dear Friends in Christ,
Today we find ourselves in the Sunday Second of Lent, invited up the mountain with the Lord. He does not take all the disciples, nor even all the apostles, but only the inner circle: Peter, James, and John. Jesus is transfigured before them. They receive the special gift of knowing more deeply of Jesus’ identity and mission. The same inner circle will accompany him to the garden of Gethsemane (see Mt 26:26). For our Lord and these close followers, we get the sense that this epiphany is a source of strength for the days ahead. And we give thanks to them for the privilege of knowing about this key moment, after the Resurrection, to gain deeper insight into what it means to follow our Lord and to draw close to Him.
Sometimes we are invited close for strength or healing, or even to have a “word” placed on our hearts. Part of coming up the mountain is coming away from distractions and noise. Since time immemorial, mountains have been places where humanity has drawn close to the divine. In this case, the Father has a special message for his Son and for these three before the decisive days of the passion: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Mt 17:5).
For me it is touching to know that the Father reassures the Son, letting him know how pleased he is, that his favor and blessing are upon him. What a great message of encouragement before trial! We often long to hear words of affirmation, especially from elders and father figures in our lives. The voice also bolsters the three, affirming his identity and offering clear instruction: listen to him. For all of us on this Lenten journey, it is important to be reminded of the one who should be at the center of our existence: the beloved Son. Attentiveness to him remains paramount. How are you drawing close to Jesus the Divine Physician in stillness, free from distractions?
So, strength before trial requires drawing close with attention. Another key aspect of healing comes into view when we see the Transfiguration from the Crucifixion. The Cross is the hinge between the old and the new, the doorway through which all who seek to live in newness of life must pass. And God’s plan is somehow to use wounds for glory. Jesus is the wounded healer. Isaiah says: “But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed” (Isa 53:5) a haunting verse on healing that comes to us throughout Lent, but especially on Good Friday. Think about it. If Jesus did not die, we could not live. If he was not wounded, we could not be healed. The Saints say that in Heaven our wounds for Christ become “glory marks” just as Jesus’ wounds in the Resurrection remain visible.
The great consolation for us is that Jesus knows our wounds. He experienced them personally. He embraced the fullness of humanity with great compassion in order to walk in our footsteps that we might walk in his. In this way, he does not leave us in our brokenness but creates a way forward through trials to newness of life. That is the path of discipleship, the path of Lent, the path of healing we are walking on together.
May the Lord be our strength!
Fr. Wilson
