Road to Emmaus Second Sunday of Lent

Mar 4, 2009

(Cycle B)

First Reading – Gen. 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 116: 10, 15, 16-17, 18-19

Second Reading – Rom. 8:31b-34

Gospel Reading – Mk. 9:2-10

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading Mark recounts for us the Transfiguration of Jesus, an event that is absolutely packed with meaning.

The new Moses

One of the main themes of Mark’s Gospel, as has been noted many times in this column, is an emphasis on the new and greater exodus prophesied by Isaiah (cf. 40-55). We are brought back to this theme when we reflect on Jesus’ Transfiguration.

In the Transfiguration, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain and he is transfigured. In the midst of this, Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus, "and they were talking to Jesus" (Mk. 9:4b).

Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets. Their appearance is a way of showing us that Jesus is indeed the complete fulfillment of the law and prophets. "Moses and Elijah had seen God’s glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah’s sufferings" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 555). They were also the only ones in the Old Testament to hear God’s voice atop Mount Sinai.

Jesus is the focus, and this is made clear near the end of the passage when it says, "And suddenly looking around they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only" (Mk. 9:8).

(This is reminiscent of what will take place after the Resurrection when the two disciples and Jesus break bread in Emmaus. After celebrating the Eucharist with them, Jesus "vanished out of their sight" (Lk. 24:31b). Here too Jesus is the focus; though it is the Eucharistic presence of Jesus which is the focus this time. Jesus himself brings us to understand this through his vanishing out of their sight.)

Mark continues to show us that the promise of a new and greater exodus is being fulfilled in the new Moses, Jesus. This is demonstrated by many parallels between Moses and an event in Exodus 24 and Jesus’ Transfiguration. For example:

1. Moses himself is present in both events.

2. Both events take place on the seventh day (Ex. 24:16; Mk. 9:2).

3. Both take place on a mountain (Ex. 24:13, 15).

4. Moses and Jesus both take three companions (Ex. 24:1).

5. Both of their faces shine with God’s glory (Ex. 34:29).

6. In both events there is the glory cloud of God’s presence, the shekinah (Ex. 24:15-16).

7. God speaks through a heavenly voice (Ex. 24:12).

(Column continues below)

In addition to this we have further confirmation that Jesus is the new Moses leading a new and greater exodus.

Have you ever wondered what exactly Jesus, Moses and Elijah were talking about? Mark and Matthew don’t tell us. However, Luke does. Luke tells us that they "spoke of his exodus which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem" (9:30). So, interestingly they speak of his exodus, but not out of Egypt, but at Jerusalem.

Also fascinating is the fact that the Book of Revelation speaks of Jerusalem as the new Egypt (cf. 11:7-8). In this same context, Revelation also speaks of two witnesses. "They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying" (Rev. 11:6a). This is exactly what Elijah did in 1 Kings 17:1. They also "have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to afflict the earth with every plague, as often as they desire" (Rev. 11:6b). This is exactly what Moses did in Exodus 7:17.

The next thing Mark shows us, confirming Jesus is the new Moses, is a connection with an Old Testament feast inaugurated under Moses. Peter requests that he be able to make three tents, which can also be translated "booths" or "tabernacles." In Leviticus 23:33-43 we are told of the institution of the Feast of Booths which celebrates God’s bringing Israel out of the land of Egypt, in addition to commemorating the giving of the law.

We also have the fact that we hear the voice of the Father say, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him" (Mk. 9:7). This is a reference back to a prophecy of Moses himself when he said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren – him shall you heed…" (Dt. 18:15). Jesus is in fact the new and greater Moses, the eternal Son of the Father.

More beautiful truths

There are of course other aspects of the event of the Transfiguration which are important.

One thing which must be mentioned is that this event takes place right after Jesus has predicted his suffering, death and resurrection, and the Apostles having a difficult time with this bit of important information (cf. Mk. 8:31-33).

Jesus now proceeds to give Peter, James and John a special glimpse of his glory. The Transfiguration is a brief foretaste of Jesus’ bodily resurrection. The Apostles, given their frail human nature, needed this after a prediction of his forthcoming death.

We also get a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity, of the fact that he is God. This is done so through the Transfiguration itself and words which hearken us back to Jesus’ baptism. Like his baptism we again have the presence, and thus revelation, of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the Father speaking to the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Church in her wisdom gives us this reading during our arduous journey through Lent. We, like the disciples, need to be buoyed up in our hope as we traverse the wilderness of the Lenten season. We too get a glimpse of what is to come when we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ at Easter. But more importantly we are preparing for our final exodus from this life. We prepare with the joyful hope of seeing the Lord face to face in all his glory for all eternity.