Eager that the faithful should observe a fruitful Lenten season, the Church’s liturgy early on recalls the lives of Biblical heroes who faced overwhelming odds but persevered to a fruitful outcome. Apostles Peter, James and John, destined for leadership in the early Church, would need both inner strength and outward courage as they preached the Good News to hostile Jerusalem and to aggressive Rome. So Jesus prudently appears before them in full glory, accompanied by two Scriptural heroes of yesteryear, Moses and Elias.
Could there be anyone who faced more aggravation than the prophet Moses? Fleeing Egypt as a young man facing a murder charge, Moses returned to confront the Pharaoh and to plead for the release of the Jewish people, the very core of Egypt’s working force. Eventually, rid of the Pharaoh, Moses had to placate his own people who complained about the lack of water, who demanded more hearty meals, and who even accused him of getting up early to steal the best bits of manna! Yet for forty years, the prophet persevered and was buried within sight of the Promised Land, his goal accomplished in spite of annoyance.
The prophet Elijah also endured great aggravation during his encounters with another wicked ruler, Queen Jezebel, wife of the hapless Ahab. Jezebel promoted the worship of Baal, profaned Jerusalem’s temple, expelling the Jewish priests and imposing four hundred and fifty pagan seers on the holy place. She forged documents, made false accusations and managed the murder of Naboth to seize his property. In spite of such aggravation, Elijah persevered, ensuring the triumph of a new high priest, a new king and a new prophet for Israel. God sealed his efforts by swooping the prophet gloriously up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Jesus chose these two prophets as his companions on Mount Tabor because their history of triumph in spite of provocation would be a prelude to his own public life. Ignored by the Temple priests, harassed by the Scribes and Pharisees, betrayed by some of his own, taunted by the fickle crowds, and tortured by the Romans, Jesus’ earthly existence was challenging to say the least. Knowing that all this frustration was ahead, the Master early on gives Peter, James and John a glimpse of the glory that would unfold for him in the world to come. “And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light (Mt.17:2).” Aware of the tough times ahead for the Apostolic community, Jesus granted this splendid boost for the apostles’’ morale. And the apostles were grateful: “Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here (17:3).”
The contemporary Church knows that, in a much less dramatic fashion, the Christian life to be well led will have its trials and its challenges, its burdens and its failures. The liturgy for the second Sunday of Lent recognizes this challenge in the Gospel passage that offers the triple example of Moses, Elijah and Christ who boldly triumphed over adversity. The Church itself over the centuries has certainly shared Jesus’ insight that the practice of the Christian life can become wearisome and a believer’s failure to live up the Gospel’s high standards can be frustrating. Jesus indeed had reason for discouragement. Yet his faith in his Father’s plan triumphed over any adverse circumstance and fortified him through to the end, a victorious end. Every serious believer must share the same determination to persevere regardless of challenges.
