March 1 – 2nd Sunday of Lent
Three Apostles and two prophets before God made Man, who on the summit of Mount Tabor shows Himself in all His splendour. This is the magnificent and sublime scene of the Transfiguration! An unfathomable spectacle, witnessed on earth by Peter, James, and John, and the representatives of the blessed, the great Moses and Elijah: “And He was transfigured before them; His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light” (Mt 17:2).
In the midst of the awe-inspiring vision and irresistibly drawn by it, the impetuous Peter exclaims: “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mt 17:4). But soon the voice of the Father was heard, changing the courage of the Prince of the Apostles into doubt and fear, seeing his plans, as human as they were far-removed from the divine will, thwarted.
Falling, then, with his face to the ground, and thus prostrate beside the “sons of thunder” (Mk 3:17), he must have recalled in the depths of his heart the Master’s rebuke: “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men” (Mk 8:33). Fear then invaded Peter’s soul, as well as that of the sons of Zebedee, until Our Lord said to them: “Rise, and do not be afraid” (Mt 17:7).
Indeed, it was not the first time that fear had pervaded the Apostles’ hearts. Let us recall, among others, the episode at the Sea of Galilee, when they trembled upon seeing the Divine Master walking on the water while trying to calm them, saying: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear” (Mk 6:50).
Why tremble before Him who loved them so much and who had come to save them, promising them His own Kingdom?
Because, like Peter, the other Apostles were still seeking the Lord and His Kingdom in the world, in worldly glories and material concerns, when they should be doing so in their own souls: “the kingdom of God is among you” (Lk 17:21).
Indeed, whenever someone lets themselves be overcome by misfortune, allowing fear and lack of trust in God to invade their soul, it is because, like another Simon Peter, they have removed Our Lord from the centre, to erect the “tents” of selfishness, caprice, and ambition.
Jesus Christ did not need Peter’s three tents, for the temples He sought were already there: they were the Apostles themselves!
What then did the Saviour desire? Only to dwell in their souls, so that they might become His instruments for the establishment of His eternal covenant, just as God had once established, through Moses, the Ark of the Covenant in the Tent of Meeting.
It is up to us to ask ourselves: would I rather build my tent in this world or be a temple where God can dwell? ◊
