St. Joseph's Catholic Church

Lord, it is Good that we are Here

 On this Second Sunday of Lent, Year A, the Church leads us up a mountain. The Gospel of the Transfiguration presents Jesus taking Peter, James, and John apart by themselves to a high mountain. There, before their eyes, He is transfigured: His face shines like the sun and His garments become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Him, and a cloud overshadows them. From the cloud comes the voice of the Father: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

This luminous moment is not accidental. It comes at a decisive point in the ministry of Jesus. He has already begun to speak about His coming Passion. The shadow of the Cross is approaching. Before the disciples witness His humiliation, they are allowed to glimpse His glory. Before they see Him disfigured on Calvary, they see Him transfigured on the mountain. The Lord strengthens their faith in advance, so that when scandal and fear come, they may remember what they have seen.

On the mountain, Peter wants to remain in the glory. “Lord, it is good that we are here,” he says, proposing to build three tents. He wants to preserve the moment, to stay where everything is radiant and clear. How human that is. We too desire consolation without sacrifice, glory without suffering. But the mountain experience is not the destination. It is preparation. After the vision fades, Jesus leads them back down, and He speaks again of His coming Passion. The light is meant to strengthen them for the darkness that lies ahead.

The Transfiguration assures us that suffering is not the final word. Behind the Cross stands the glory of the Son. Behind sacrifice lies transformation. Lent is not a season of gloom but of hope-filled purification. It reminds us that God is at work even when the path leads through struggle.

May this Lent be a true journey of listening, trust, and transformation, so that when Easter dawns, we too may share more deeply in the light of His glory. Amen.