Second Sunday in Lent – Year C
March 16, 2025 – 10:30 AM
Saint Cecilia Catholic Community
Deacon Sharon Kay Talley
Genesis 15:5-12;17-18 | Psalm 27:1;7-9;13-14
Philippians 3:20-4:1 | Luke 9:28b-36
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
The Transfiguration of Jesus is the main focus on this Second Sunday of Lent. This event is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and Mark and is a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus as we are reminded of His divinity.
The Transfiguration of Jesus occurs when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where He is transfigured before them. His face shining like the sun and His clothes becoming dazzling white. The Transfiguration not only reveals Jesus’ true nature as the Son of God but also foreshadows His resurrection and the glory that awaits those who choose to follow Him as disciples.
The theme of Transformation is further emphasized in the scriptural readings for today. In the first reading from Genesis, God promises to make a covenant with Abram and promises to bless him with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. This covenant marks a turning point in Abram’s life, as he is called to leave his homeland and trust in God’s promise to transform his life. Similarly, the psalmist proclaims today, “the Lord is my light and salvation.”
This phrase highlights Jesus’ transformative nature as the source of both spiritual illumination and deliverance, mirroring His role as both the Messiah and the ultimate savior. “Light” signifies spiritual understanding, guidance, and the revelation of truth teachings and actions illuminate for humanity. “Salvation” refers to deliverance from sin, death and the consequences of human fallibility. Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection are seen as the ultimate act of salvation, offering a path to eternal life and reconciliation with God. Hence, Jesus is our “ultimate savior”.
This call to transformation is also echoed in our second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, where Paul writes, “Our citizenship is in heaven and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” This passage is intended to remind us that our true home is in heaven and that our lives on earth reflect this heavenly citizenship. Just as Jesus was transfigured before His disciples, so too are we called to be transfigured by our faith in Him, becoming beacons of light and hope in a dark and broken world.
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) refer to temporary changes in a person’s mental state that alter their perception, cognition, emotion, and sense of self. Generally speaking, they can be induced by various factors, including meditation, dreams, sleep deprivation, fever, brain injury, and hypnosis. When a person enters an altered state of consciousness, their sense of perceptions are temporarily different than normal. In an altered state of consciousness, a person perceives the world differently and may see and experience things that aren’t present in reality and their behaviors change on this mental shift.
The manner in which people experience altered states of consciousness can differ from person to person even if they are experiencing the same external stimuli. For example, two people can take the same medication and have different reactions in the same way people dream but experience different images.
The concept of healing through altered states of consciousness has been around for centuries. According to biblical scholar, John J. Pilch, scientific cultural analyses of 488 societies from all the world’s cultures have discovered that 90% of these societies routinely experience alternate realities in waking visions or trances.
Even scientifically minded people are familiar with these experiences. A favorite piece of music, a cherished painting, or even a particular food or drink can produce changes in consciousness.
In the ancient Mediterranean world, experiences of alternate reality in vision and trance were common. Devotees of the healing god, Asclepius, routinely learned about their illness and therapy from this god in a dream.
At Jesus’ baptism, you may recall that a voice from heaven calls out, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!” This declaration underscores the uniqueness of Jesus and invites His disciples to pay attention to His teachings and to follow His example. The Transfiguration serves as a moment of confirmation for Peter, James, and John who witness the divine majesty of Jesus and are called to deepen their faith in Him.
In Luke’s Gospel, the baptism of Jesus could be viewed as an experience of alternate reality since it tells of the heavens opining to allow the Holy Spirit to appear in the form of a dove, and then God the Father speaks.
Today’s Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus makes another plausible experience of an altered state of consciousness. But many biblical scholars, such as Dominican Sister Barbara Reid, are critical and skeptical about referring to the transfiguration as an altered state of consciousness based upon the unexamined and unquestioned Western cultural biases that permeate science.
Moreover, the Transfiguration offers a glimpse of the glory that awaits those who trust in Jesus. The dazzling white clothes of Jesus symbolize the purity and holiness of His divine nature, as well as the transformation that will occur in those who follow Him.
Just as Jesus was transfigured before His disciples, believers like us are also called to be transformed by their encounter with Him. The Transfiguration serves as a reminder that the journey of faith is one of continual growth and renewal, leading to the ultimate reward of eternal life with Jesus.
In the context of Lent, the Transfiguration serves as a source of inspiration and encouragement for believers as they journey towards Easter. The season of Lent is a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal; a time to draw closer to God and to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus. The Transfiguration offers a powerful image of the glory and majesty of Jesus, welcoming believers to take up their cross and follow Him on the path to salvation.
So as we reflect on the significance of the Transformation in our own lives, we are reminded of the importance of prayer, fasting, and alms giving as spiritual disciplines that can help us grow in faith and holiness. Just as Jesus took Peter, James, and John up the mountain to pray, so too are we called to climb the mountain of Lent through prayer and contemplation. By fasting from our worldly desires and giving alms to those in need and your church (hopefully, St. Cecilia’s), we can live out the teachings of Jesus and be transformed by His grace.
Amen.