To Jesus belongs the glory of the Father’s only son.  Those who stay with Jesus get to have shining faces and burning hearts. 

Jesus’ face and clothes turn shining and bright as he is transfigured before Peter, James and John.  Are the three of the inner circle of the disciples, and so, have privilege?  Or are they maybe the ones who most need to have a strong faith?  For, more than the others, they cannot bear what Jesus announces about his passion (Mt 16, 22; Mk 10, 35-37).  Yet with privilege or slow to believe, it does them good just the same to glimpse the glory the passion entails.

For even a fleeting preview of such glory makes strong those who share the hard work for the Gospel.  Yes, those who preview the prize at the end stay persevering and shining.  They even train.

And we should not take lightly that it is hard to go about towns and villages to do good.  That is, to teach, as Jesus, preach the Good News of the kingdom and cure the sick and the afflicted.

For one thing, to go about towns and villages means to give up the security and comfort of the homeland.  And to trust, as Abraham, in God who is good, and who provides, and in other folks’ good will.

For another thing, to go about to do good is to court conflict (SV.EN I:75).  No, no doubt, the disciples will have to struggle to follow Jesus.

Maybe, just like their Teacher, they will have to give up their bodies and shed their blood.  But the vision of the glory in the end will fill them with light and hope.  They will thus get over hardships and hurdles and stay shining.  And their hearts will burn as they listen to the words of the one who fulfills the law and the prophets.

Lord Jesus, make stay shining and burning those who serve the Father and their neighbor (SV.EN VI:413).  And grant that they come down the mountain.  They will thus prove wrong Karl Max’ saying that religion is the opium of the people.

1 March 2026
2nd Sunday of Lent (A)
Gen 12, 1-4a; 2 Tim 1, 8b-10; Mt 17, 1-9