Second Sunday of Lent, March 01, 2026
Genesis 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9
The story begins with a simple but profound moment of forgiveness. The kindness of the bishop is a moment of transfiguration for Valjean: As the three disciples behold the divinity that radiates from the vision of Jesus on the mountaintop, Valjean realizes the ember of God’s goodness that has continued to burn within him despite the brutality and cruelty of his two decades in prison. That same touch of divinity exists within each one of us, as well: God is present within us, animating us to do good and holy things; guiding our steps as we try to walk justly and humbly in the ways of God; enlightening our vision with wisdom and selflessness to bring the justice and mercy of God into our world. The challenge of discipleship, like the touch and compassion of the bishop that transformed Valjean, is to allow the love of God to “transfigure” despair into hope, sadness into joy, anguish into healing, and estrangement into community.
Today’s Gospel tells us about the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain. There, before their eyes, Jesus is transfigured. His face shines like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear and speak with him. The disciples are overwhelmed by what they see. They fall to the ground in fear. Then they hear a voice from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
This Gospel gives us an important message for our Lenten journey. The disciples are allowed to see the glory of Jesus so that they may be strengthened for the days ahead. Soon, they will witness suffering and rejection. They will see Jesus arrested and crucified. But before that happens, they are given this vision of hope. The Transfiguration reminds them that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that suffering will not have the final word.
Lent is like climbing a mountain with Jesus. We step aside from our usual routine in order to see more clearly. Through prayer, fasting and charity, we try to draw closer to God. When we make this effort, God helps us to see our lives in a new light. The Transfiguration shows us who Jesus truly is, but it also shows us who we are called to become. The light that shines from Jesus is the light of God’s presence. Through baptism, that same light has been placed within us. Sometimes that light is hidden by our weaknesses and failures, but it is still there. Lent is a time to let that light shine again.
The first reading speaks about the call of Abraham. God tells Abraham to leave his country and go to a land that God will show him. Abraham is asked to leave behind everything that is familiar and secure. He does not know where the journey will lead, but he trusts God and sets out. This reading reminds us that faith is always a journey. God calls us to move forward. He invites us to leave behind whatever keeps us from growing closer to him. Sometimes what holds us back is fear. Sometimes it is comfort. Sometimes it is a sin. Like Abraham, we are asked to trust God even when the path is not clear.
Abraham’s journey is not easy. Yet God promises to bless him and make him a blessing to others. This is always the pattern of God’s call. When we respond to God, our lives become a source of blessing. Faith is never only about ourselves. It always leads us to serve others.
The second reading from Timothy tells us that God calls us to a holy life. This call does not come because of our own strength or goodness. It comes from God’s grace. St Paul reminds Timothy that Christ has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. This message is important during Lent. Sometimes we think that becoming better depends only on our own effort. We try to change by relying only on our own strength. But the Christian life is not based only on human effort. It is based on God’s grace working within us. God is always reaching out to us. He invites us to a deeper relationship with him. Even when we fail, God continues to call us. Even when we lose hope, God remains faithful. The light of Christ continues to shine in the darkness.
In the Gospel, Peter wants to stay on the mountain. He says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” He wants to build tents and remain in that peaceful moment. But Jesus does not allow them to stay. They must go down the mountain and continue the journey. This teaches us an important lesson. Moments of prayer and closeness to God are important, but they are not the end of the journey. We are called to bring what we receive in prayer into our daily lives. The real test of faith is not what happens on the mountain, but what happens when we return to ordinary life.
The disciples fall to the ground in fear when they hear the voice from the cloud. But Jesus comes and touches them and says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” These words are meant for us as well. Many people live with fear. We fear the future. We fear failure. We fear suffering. But Jesus tells us not to be afraid. God walks with us in every moment of our lives.
Then the voice from the cloud says, “Listen to him.” These words are at the centre of today’s Gospel. To listen to Jesus means more than simply hearing his words. It means allowing his message to guide our lives. It means trusting his teaching even when it is difficult. It means following his example of love, forgiveness and service. Lent is a time to listen more carefully. We listen when we read the Gospel. We listen when we pray. We listen when we spend time in silence. When we truly listen to Jesus, our hearts begin to change.
Transformation usually happens quietly and slowly. It does not always come through dramatic experiences. Often it happens through small daily decisions. Every time we choose patience instead of anger, generosity instead of selfishness, or forgiveness instead of resentment, God’s grace is at work within us. The Transfiguration reminds us that our final destiny is glory. God did not create us for darkness but for light. The journey of Lent leads us toward Easter, where we celebrate the victory of life over death. The light that shines on the mountain is the same light that shines from the empty tomb.
At the end of the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples not to speak about what they have seen until after the resurrection. Only then will they fully understand the meaning of the Transfiguration. Only then will they realize that suffering and glory belong together in God’s plan. As we continue our Lenten journey, we ask God to help us trust in his grace. We ask for the courage to follow where he leads. We ask for open hearts that are ready to listen to His Son.
Just as the mercy shown to Jean Valjean awakened goodness within him, God’s grace continually works to renew us. When we allow God’s love to touch our lives, we too are transformed. Then we become people who bring hope, mercy and light into the world, reflecting something of the glory of Christ in our everyday lives.
Happy Sunday
