LENT IS A TIME OF SPIRITUAL ASCENT

Homily for the Second Sunday in Lent, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10

The Lenten Season is a forty-day journey. On this journey, Jesus is our anchor and compass. Last week, on the first Sunday of Lent, we journeyed with Jesus to the wilderness, the place of encounter and spiritual testing, for us to confront the different beasts in our lives – shortcomings, addictions, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, temptations, and blind spots. On this second Sunday of Lent, Jesus takes us on a journey to yet another location. This time around, he takes us to the Mountain of Transfiguration.

In the Bible, the mountain holds significant symbolism. It represents places of divine presence and important settings for encounters with God, where divine revelations take place. For instance, on Mount Sinai, Moses encountered God, symbolizing the divine encounter between God and his people (Exodus 19-20). Mount Zion is often used symbolically in the Bible to represent God’s dwelling place (Psalm 48:1-2). On Mount Moriah, Abraham encountered God (Gen 12:8) and God tested him to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2).

In today’s gospel reading, we find another mountain experience. We read that Jesus took with him, Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. There, he was transfigured before them and his garments became glistening intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them (Mark 9:2). The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry, as it affirms his identity as the beloved Son of God. It also foreshadows his upcoming passion, death, and resurrection. The presence of Moses and Elijah signifies the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s covenant with his people.

As we reflect on the Transfiguration, we too are called to climb the mountain with Jesus, to open our hearts to divine revelation, and to be transformed by the encounter with the living God. Like Peter, James, and John, we may not fully understand the significance of what we witness, but we are invited to behold the glory of God and to listen to the voice of the Father telling us: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

Dear friend, the Lenten season is a time of spiritual ascent, a journey of transformation, purification, and renewal. It is a season to draw closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. As we journey through Lent, may we be attentive to the “mountain” moments in our lives - those encounters with God that inspire us, challenge us, and lead us to deeper faith and discipleship. Let us keep in mind that in most cases, those mountain moments can make difficult demands on us like the type that God made of Abraham in the first reading. To be fully purified, transformed and renewed during our “mountain experiences,” we must be ready to make sacrifices and let go of some things just like Abraham did.

Finally, let us pray for the grace to climb the mountain of Transfiguration with Jesus, to be transfigured/transformed by his love, and to radiate his light in the world. May this Lenten journey be a time of spiritual renewal and transformation, as we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.