Second Sunday During Lent: The View From The Top of the Mountain

Sunday, 1 March 2026

In today’s Gospel we hear the story of The Transfiguration, where Jesus, taking Peter, James, and John up Mount Tabor, is transformed. The face of Jesus suddenly shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets, all pointing toward Him: the son of God.

It may initially seem to be an obvious moment of pure, blinding clarity, but in both the disciples’ reaction and Jesus’ response, we learn a little more about how God wishes us to live.

Peter’s first instinct is so relatable. He sees the glory and says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three shelters…” Peter wanted to freeze the moment. He wanted to stay on the mountain, and avoid the messy, difficult walk back down into the valley toward Jerusalem, and all that awaited there.

How often do we try to freeze the scenes in our lives? When things are going well, or when we have a moment of spiritual high, we want to stay there forever. We want to avoid the valley – the patience required for the work, the discipline of Lent, or the challenges of family life. But Jesus doesn’t let them stay. The mountain is for perspective, but the valley is where we find our purpose.

While Peter is still speaking, a bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice says: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.”

In the busy-ness of our lives, our ears are filled with a thousand voices telling us who to be, what to buy, and who to listen to. God’s command on the mountain is remarkably simple: Listen to Him. And it’s exactly this that lies at the very heart of my Lenten digital fast. By switching off the notifications and the gossip, we aren’t just looking for quiet, we’re also making space to listen. Listening is also an act of surrender, it’s stopping our own plans long enough to hear what the Father is saying to us.

When the disciples hear the voice, they fall to the ground in terror. But Jesus comes and touches them. He says, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they look up, they see no one but their friend and teacher, Jesus.

The Transfiguration reminds us that the dazzling white Jesus of Mount Tabor is the same Jesus who touches our shoulder when we’re afraid. Lent can feel heavy, with the weight of our sins, the difficulty of our fasts, the challenges of living our calling. But the message of Tabor reminds us that we know the end of the story: He is King, and He has already won.

What is God telling us?

Through this passage, I think God is whispering two important things to our hearts today:

Firstly, we’re all given those wonderful mountain-top moments in order to give us the strength to keep walking through the valley: the manic Mondays and neverending Thursdays, the bumps in the road we encounter daily.

And finally, at the end of the vision, Moses and Elijah vanish, leaving only Jesus. Maybe, just maybe, God is asking us: “In all your busy-ness, in all the things you pursue and make time for, can you still see Me? Listen, and know that I am here.”

A Lenten Prayer

Lord, thank You for the glimpses of Your glory that keep us going. Help us not to cling to the mountain, but to listen to Your voice and follow You back into the valley with courage. May we see no one but You at the center of our lives. Amen.