Jesus’ Exodus

Jesus’ Exodus

Lk 9: 28 – 36

Second Sunday of Lent

Introduction

We are into the second Sunday of Lent. Today’s reading is about the transfiguration of the Lord. Up there on the mountain Jesus was suddenly transfigured into a radiant and dazzling white figure with Moses and Elijah speaking to him. It is interesting to know why the Church presents to us this image of a glorious Jesus during this Lenten Season.

The Gospel

As the gospel reading today tells us, Jesus one day took Peter, John and James up the mountain to pray. Then suddenly as Jesus was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. Then, two men, identified as Moses and Elijah were conversing with him who like him, also appeared in glory.

The two men spoke of Jesus’ exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. In the meantime, Peter and his companions, who were overcome by sleep became fully awake as they saw this unbelievably glorious apparition. Then, as the apparition ended, Peter said to Jesus: “ Master, it is good that we are here: let us make three tents one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.

While Peter was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “ This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Reflection

It is often reported in the gospels that when Jesus wanted to pray, he goes to a secluded place, usually a mountain. He also had this habit of bringing with him his inner circle, Peter, James and John. And as usual, as he prayed up there on the mountain, his disciples would feel tired and fall asleep.

But what made this incident a little different was that this time, the three disciples witnessed an apparition they would not forget. Even as they were overwhelmed with sleep, they suddenly became wide awake as they noticed the face of Jesus suddenly transfigured and his clothes turning dazzling white as Moses and Elijah spoke to him.

In the Old Testament, God was portrayed as someone who lived on the mountain. They called this mountain Sinai, or Horeb. People were afraid to go up the mountain to meet God. They feared that if they come face to face with God, they would die instantly. No one who saw God would survive and would live to tell of the experience. They describe God as one who was all covered with clouds, so radiant, so bright, and surrounded with blinding light. They had a term for this imagery; they called it the Glory of Yahweh.

So when Luke speaks of Jesus who is up on the mountain with a transformed face, whose clothes are dazzling white and whose “glory” was witnessed by Jesus’ disciples, there could be no mistake about the parallelisms Luke utilized in order to reveal to us who Jesus was: that Jesus was the Glory of Yahweh, transfigured and full of the splendor and radiance of God himself. He is the image of God himself.

Moreover, the figure of Moses and Elijah, two of Israel’s greatest prophets who represented the Law and the prophets were also the two people who were caught up in the radiance and splendor of God as they spoke with God face to face on the mountain. So when these two people were seen speaking with Jesus, they were literally speaking with God; God who had a human face in Jesus.

This same gospel passage is also written in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. However, here in Luke, there is an added note to the story. Luke adds: “The two men (Moses and Elijah) spoke of Jesus’ exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” Moses and Elijah spoke about Jesus’ Exodus. The term Exodus connotes a kind of passage. In this case, it was to be a passage clearly of suffering which shall be accomplished in Jerusalem through Jesus’ death on the cross.

Luke somehow conflates the two images of glory and suffering into a single image. This somehow tells us that Luke considers the suffering of Jesus, his exodus into Jerusalem as Jesus’ glory and that the two seem inseparable. What to us are symbols of power and glory and might as seen in Jesus’ transfiguration are undoubtedly also the symbols of his suffering, death and resurrection.

In the end, the splendor of the Father’s face can be seen in the glorious and transfigured face of Jesus. But Jesus’ glory is inseparable from his suffering, death and resurrection. In his suffering, death, and resurrection, we see the Lord’s real glory. In Jesus, who gives up his life for us, we see the true face of God shining brightly through our lives.

In a similar manner, the glory of our lives shine brightly only in so far as they participate in the sufferings of Jesus. When we face life and embrace the suffering that it brings in the same way that Jesus embraced his own sufferings, then we too can attain the same glory that is promised to all those who follow him.

It seems a little odd to be talking of glory and splendor at this season of Lent. The sobering season of Lent seems to be a time when everything is toned down, and to speak of glory and radiant splendor seem to be at odds with the spirit of the liturgical season. 

On the contrary, the transfiguration is also a prefiguration of what is to happen to all those who do not shun suffering. The transfiguration is the victory that is already assigned and promised to those whose life is lived with Jesus who carries the cross daily and whose life is given up for the salvation of many.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I am so happy to see you in all your dazzling and resplendent glory. For once, I do not see you as the rejected and lonely prophet who is unrecognized by many. In your transfiguration, you even speak to famous personalities like Moses and Elijah who are revered and very much loved.

Today you tell me that in a way, I am right but not completely. You tell me that all the glory and splendor that I now see in your transfiguration is only possible through your willing embrace of your exodus in Jerusalem – your suffering and death on the cross which leads to your glorious resurrection.

Make me understand this Jesus. I am not sure that I fully understand what you mean when you say that there is glory in the cross. Amen. 

“For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God's power we will live with Him to serve you. “– 2 Cor 13: 4

For more reflections like this, see my blog: thevineyardlaborer.blogspot.com