Originally published at National Catholic Register
User’s Guide to the Second Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 16, is the Second Sunday of Lent. Mass readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14; Philippians 3:17-4:1 or Philippians 3:20-4:1; Luke 9:28b-36.
The event of the Transfiguration recounted in today’s Gospel describes the pattern of the Christian life, which is the Paschal mystery. We are always dying and rising with Christ in repeated cycles as we journey to an eternal Easter (2 Corinthians 4:10). This passage shows the pattern of the cross in the climb to the glory of the mountaintop; then it is back down the mountain again, only to climb another one (Golgotha) and through it find another glory (Easter Sunday).
“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.”
We often pass over the fact that they had to climb the mountain — no easy task. Anyone who has been to Mt. Tabor knows just what a high mountain it is. The climb to the top is almost 2,000 steep feet. Here is a symbol of the cross and of struggle. The climb was up the rough side of the mountain; it was exhausting and difficult, testing their strength.
