2nd Sunday of Lent B - Homily 7

Homily 7 -2024

What I want to reflect on this morning is not the Transfiguration itself but Jesus’ comment to Peter, James and John when it was all over: “As they came down the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Why the silence? Why the embargo on the news?

To answer that, I think we need to keep in mind the larger context. The “voice from the cloud”, the voice of God the Father, insisted that, yes, Jesus was indeed his Son, that he loved him, that he took special delight in him. But, in the same breath, the Voice insisted: “Listen to him”. That curt recommendation from God, it seems, was the whole reason for the transfiguration of Jesus that the three disciples had just witnessed. It was necessary because the disciples as a group just a week earlier had resisted Jesus’ own assuring them that he was destined ultimately to be humiliatingly and cruelly killed; and it seems from Peter’s reaction now to Jesus’ transfiguration which the three had just witnessed that Jesus’ earlier message had still not sunk in: “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here.” Was Peter in effect saying: “This is more like it! You really are the powerful, triumphant, wonderful Messiah that we have all been hoping for. Just let everyone see what we have just seen. That’s what would really get people on side!”

Instead, Jesus commanded the three disciples to tell no one. Indeed, they were to wait until after they had witnessed his resurrection.

Why? Not only because without the resurrection, crucifixion would be misunderstood. Equally importantly: without crucifixion, resurrection would also be misunderstood.

Let’s ponder briefly on both.

Without resurrection, crucifixion would be misunderstood. Pretty inevitably, most people, then and now, would see it as total failure — Jesus’ life, Jesus’ message [so counter-cultural as they both were] would, in their minds, have little, if any, credibility.

There is a lot more that could be said on this. But not today — though it could well be good Lenten fare for those of you who during this Lent have listened to Jesus’ recommendation to “go to your private room and speak to your Father who is in that secret place”.

Let’s look now more closely at the parallel comment: without crucifixion, resurrection would be misunderstood. You will remember, particularly from the Gospels of Luke and John, that the risen Jesus gave quite deliberate emphasis to the fact of his previous suffering and death. His body still carried the wounds of his crucifixion in his hands and feet and side. Those wounds had become part of who he was, and who he still is. For Jesus, his crucifixion was certainly humanly humiliating but it was also spiritually the climax of his lifelong love for everyone, including his enemies — Jesus became perfect through suffering. For those with eyes to see, it would also be indication and proof of that perfect love.

Jesus stood, alongside and with, his Father who loved the world so much. In his tortured but voluntary death, Jesus revealed to the world through his own loving the depths also of the Father’s love for the world.

When Jesus appeared to the frightened disciples on the evening of his rising, his first words were “Peace be with you”. His offer of forgiveness was not dependent on any previous expression of repentance on their part. For Jesus, forgiving and loving are inseparable, and they are for everyone. No one is excluded. It is the certainty of forgiveness offered that makes love real, and the certainty of forgiveness believed and accepted that makes repentance real. God does not triumph over the sinful world — God mercifully loves it; and in loving us, God does not humiliate but sets us free.