2nd Sunday

The wilderness was the setting for last week's gospel. This week, the setting is a mountain. Both wilderness and mountain link Luke's story of Jesus with the story of the Israelites. Wilderness and mountain also remind us that God's creation is the locus of mystery, the place of human-divine encounter.

Jesus takes three of his closest friends up the mountain and is 'transfigured' in their presence. Elijah and Moses, the key prophetic figures of Israel, appear and enter into dialogue with Jesus, God's definitive prophet. 

The 'transfiguration' seems to point to a time in Jesus' ministry when he accepts his likely fate: if he continues to challenge oppression and injustice, he is certain to encounter opposition, even death.

He struggles with that realisation in the wilderness and comes to terms with what it involves on the mountain. The voice of God reaffirms the identity of Jesus and calls for a response: 'Listen to him'. These words are reminiscent of Moses' instruction to the Israelites:  'Your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet' (Deut 18:15).

For Luke, Jesus is the prophet-like-Moses whom they must heed.

Peter wants to hold on to the experience of glory, to 'make tents' and settle down. He prefers not to face the difficulties involved in fidelity to the mission. But that is not the way of discipleship. 

Like Jesus and his companions, we too need the occasional glimpse of final victory. We also need the good sense to follow through on the path that brings life, despite the pain. We can feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges facing us and by the opposition we experience. If we are to sustain the struggle for a healthy, safe, and peace-filled world, we have to 'heed' or 'listen to' the invitation of Jesus and come to terms with the personal costs involved. 

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