Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 2nd Week of Lent – Sunday – Cycle B – Mark 9:2-10

The Gospel reading from the Mass for Sunday Cycle B for the 2nd Week of Lent  is Mark 9:2-10.

After promising that some would not taste death before seeing the Kingdom of God coming into power, Christ leads His “inner circle” (Peter, James, John) on the “6th day” up a “high mountain” (traditionally, Mt. Tabor) to witness the Transfiguration (“to change the shape of”). Symbolically, the “6th day” echoes the Genesis act of creating man on the 6th day and prefigures the “New Creation” of the Life in Christ; the “high mountain” echoes back to Mt. Sinai on which Moses was given the Law and prefigures the New Covenant. The Transfiguration is a supernatural event of immense significance in which God in the Trinity is made manifest.

Christ is “transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them”; like His Father, Christ is “light from light” with a holiness beyond earthy possiblity and He allows His divinity to be revealed to the Apostles. Christ summons Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the prophets) to bear witness that He perfectly fulfills all Law and Prophecy in the New Covenant. Confirming His Divinity and the reality of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit appears as a cloud and the Father confirms, “This is My Beloved Son; listen to Him.”

Stunned, confused and frightened because they have encountered God; Peter wants to to make three booths, perhaps to prolong the heavenly experience. Suddenly, after the Father speaks, Jesus remains alone. Christ reconfirms that He will be risen from the dead and that the Apostles are not to disclose His transfiguration until then.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Person of the Trinity, Christ is joined by the Father and the Holy Spirit at the Transfiguration. Son of God, Christ confirms His authority over the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).  Divine King, Christ strengthens Peter, James and John for the coming ordeal of the Crucifixion by revealing His divinity in a physical way. Divine Prophet, Christ predicts His coming Passion and Resurrection and confirms the identity of John the Baptist as the new Elijah.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Marvel that Christ, the greatest leader of men, specially gathers and forms His inner core through the Transfiguration to confirm His Divinity to them and strengthen them for the coming ordeal of the Passion.

2) While for many men the Holy Spirit is mysterious and distant and fleeting (like a cloud!), He continuously draws men to the Father and Christ Jesus. During Lent, meditate upon the Holy Spirit (CCC 683-747) and pray for the Spirit to be your daily companion.

3) Living with bodies prone to gravity, disease and age, it is hard to imagine what our resurrected bodies might be like. During Lent, be filled with hope as you contemplate the Resurrection of the Dead (CCC 988-1019) and pray for Christ to help you prepare for your coming resurrection.