2nd Sunday of Lent - A

Commentary
Matthew 17: 1-9

We Can't Stop Here

In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus' transfiguration takes place after he has once told his disciples that "he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (16: 21)

And he will repeat that two more times (later in 17: 22-23 and then 20: 17-19) [1].

Jesus knows exactly what awaits him. And he will carry out his mission to the end.

By inviting the leaders of the Twelve to witness his transfiguration, Jesus prepares them for his suffering and death.

There is the glory of his resurrection after all of that. But he must go through it all.

The disciples, on the other hand, get caught up in the excitement of the moment, and lose sight of the bigger picture. They even want "to stop God's history" from happening [2]. Let us just stay here!

We may be enjoying the passing glamour of our world or even the more noble glories of doing God's will and of God's blessings.

We can't just stay here, even if the road ahead is the way of the cross.

Our destiny is with God, not here.

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[1] Francis J. Moloney. The Gospel of the Lord: Reflections of the Gospel Readings - Year A. Homebush, Australia: St. Paul Publications, 1992; p. 88.
[2] Ibid., p. 89.