3/16/2025 - 2nd Sunday of Lent

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Chosen Son; Listen to Him”

This weekend, as we celebrate the Second Sunday of Lent, Holy Mother Church once again gives us the Lord’s Transfiguration to reflect on as we journey towards Easter.  A journey that invites us to join Jesus in His retreat for 40 days, the liturgical season of Lent.  A journey that takes us through Jesus’ Trial, Condemnation, Suffering, Passion, Crucifixion, Death, Resurrection, Appearances to His Apostles and Disciples, the descent of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost and the Ascension of our Lord Jesus, the Christ.

The Transfiguration Gospels offer us a full platter of natural, supernatural, human and Divine images and Revelations. We have the image of the “Mountaintop”, a place of Spiritual enlightenment.  We have the image of “Dazzling White”, the spiritual image of purity, righteousness, Heaven and the Divine. We have the appearances of Moses, the Law of God and Elijah, the Prophet of God in conversation with the Word of God that became flesh, Jesus, the Christ.  

We have the amazement of Peter, James, and John to the Lord’s Transfiguration, His Glorification.  We have the zealous but sincere reaction of Peter, “Lord let us build three tents”, three Tabernacles, the Church.   Above all, we have the piercing and Divine voice of God, the Father affirming His Chosen Son and commanding us to “Listen to Him”.  Listen to God like our Father of faith Abraham did in today’s 1st Reading. 

The Transfiguration, like the Lord’s Baptism, presents to us, and confirms for us, in a unique way, Jesus’ Humanity and His Divinity by none other, than God, the Father Himself.  The Chosen Son’s humanity and Divinity were also affirmed and confirmed at the Lord’s Baptism, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11 and Matthew 3:17).  

Then, in the Transfiguration, God, the Father of our Lord, Jesus, the Christ, the Word of God that became Flesh, adds a command to His revelation of His Chosen Son.  God, our Father adds, “Listen to Him”.  This “Listen to Him” command by God, the Father is recorded in all three of the synoptic Gospels, Luke 9:35, Mark 9:7 and Matthew 17:3.  

So, on this Second Sunday of Lent, let us take some time out of our busy lives, pause, and “Listen to Him”.  Listen to God’s Chosen Son, Jesus the Christ, as He speaks to us in the Holy Scriptures.  Listen to Jesus, the Christ, the Lamb of God who declares His Redemptive Mission for me and you.  Listen to Him, God’s Chosen Son, as He tells us that He will “Suffer greatly, be rejected, be killed and on the third day, be raised” (Luke 9:22).  

Listen to Him, God’s Chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ as He declares, His Kingdom, His Dominion, is not limited to this world and this life.  Listen to Him, God’s Chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ in today’s Second Reading, and join St. Paul in claiming and proclaiming our Heavenly Citizenship.

Listen to Him, not to the noise filled world of television, YouTube, Facebook, Online streaming, X, Instagram, TikTok, Podcasts and the so called, “Influencer” culture.  Listen to Him, God’s chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ who is speaking to us in and through the victims of those being bullied, rejected, suffering from isolation and loneliness.

Listen to Him, not to the noise filled world of politicians, business leaders, entertainers and celebrities.   Listen to Him, God’s chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ, who is speaking to us in and through the poor, the sick, the addicted, the hungry, the homeless, those dying in wars, the unborn and the immigrants living in fear.

Listen to Him, not to the noise filled world of untruths, relativism, religious and ideological extremism and the self-professing prophets of bigotry, doom and gloom.  List to Him, God’s chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ who is speaking to us in and through Peter’s successors, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Religious and Lay Leaders of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Listen to Him, not to the noise-filled world of the polluters, destroyers and exploiters of the environment and its elements.  Listen to Him, God’s chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ who is speaking to us in and through the Sacraments in which the elements of nature, water, oils, wine, bread, the laying on of hands in prayers is made manifest by God’s Divine grace.   

Make no mistake, God’s “Listen to Him” command is the true and full meaning of the Transfiguration. God’s “Listen to Him” command is the one, and only, mandate we hear from our Heavenly Father in all of the New Testament.  The Lord’s Transfiguration was not for the personal fulfillment of Jesus and the Apostles only rather, it was for you and me, our Salvation.

Thus, it is necessary for us Catholic Christians to listen to God’s Chosen Son, Jesus, the Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, as we strive to ascend our Spiritual Mountain this Lent. In doing so, let us  join Thomas Merton, the Trappist Monk, who on March 18, 1958, was granted his Transfiguration grace in downtown Louisville. 

Thomas Merton tells us, “I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people … I saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the person that each one is in God’s eyes.  To me”, he writes, “they seemed to be walking around shining like the sun.”  

Yes, we too, can and will be granted our Transfiguration moment into the Lord’s Glory this Lent if, and when we listen to God’s Chosen Son and believe in Him.  I leave you with the words of the 7th century Greek Father of the Church, Saint Anastasius who said, “Believed that by listening to God's voice and following Jesus, people can be transfigured and shine with His light. 

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Chosen Son; Listen to Him” Amen!                               
 Deacon Joseph Dass