Since the beginning of the new year, we have been hearing at our Sunday Masses from the first chapter of St. Mark’s Gospel. We have heard how Jesus drove out a demon, how He healed a leper, how He healed St. Peter’s mother-in-law, how He taught in a new way “with authority,” and how He was driven into the desert to be prepared for the rest of the work that would fill His public life.
On this Second Sunday of Lent, we fast-forward, so to speak, to chapter nine of the Gospel. Up until this point, including all those events in chapter 1, people have been curious about who Jesus is. They have been wondering if He is a healer, a teacher, a miracle-worker, Elijah or one of the prophets (now returned), and even if He is the “new Moses.” At this point, it is helpful to know that, according to scholars of the Bible, St. Mark’s whole purpose for writing his Gospel is the identity of Jesus. “Who is this?” That is the question St. Mark wants to answer.
For a real, true, and honest relationship to develop with another person, we have to know who they are. Isn’t it true that we can work with or live beside people for a long time without ever really getting to know them? It is one thing to know about people, and quite a different thing to really know someone. And sometimes it takes some unexpected surprise, some momentous occasion or some tragedy for that to happen – which is what we see in chapter 9 of the Gospel, in the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop.
St. Peter and his companions discover (in the Transfiguration) that knowing about Jesus is not enough. They thought they knew all about how the Messiah would appear and how they would know Him. But Jesus kept talking about being handed over and rising from the dead after three days. As the rest of the Gospel unfolds, His followers will eventually have let go of what they thought they knew about the coming Messiah – and really come to know Jesus. That is why the voice from heaven says, “Listen to Him.” It is only in listening to Jesus that they will come to know Him and not just know about Him.
***
For Lenten reflection: The glory of God was obviously on display in the Transfiguration of Jesus. But there is a hidden glory deep in the heart of all people, all things, and all the events of our lives. We get a glimpse of that glory in those closest to us and in strangers, in flowers, sunsets, and storms, and in the high moments of life and also in the low moments. There is glory to be found in discovery and in loss, and there is always glory behind every Cross. We have a hard time seeing the glory of Easter from Good Friday, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Sometimes we don’t see the image of God in an enemy or a foreigner, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. If we want to get to know someone (and not just know about them), if we want to have a lasting and beautiful relationship with someone, we have to listen and listen carefully to them … which is exactly what God tells us to do with regard to His Son. Be deliberate the rest of this Lenten season: turn off the radio, the television, the computer, and the phone (at least for a good stretch of time each day)! Be quiet. And listen.
