First Week of Lent – The Transfiguration of the Lord
“His face shone like the sun.”
In this first week of Lent, the Church gives us the Gospel of the Transfiguration which may seem surprising. We have just entered a season marked by ashes, repentance, fasting, and sacrifice and now we are taken up a mountain to witness glory.
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There, before their eyes, He is transfigured, His face shines like the sun, His garments become white as light. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets and then the Father’s voice is heard:
“This is my beloved Son… listen to him.”
Why does the Church give us this Gospel at the beginning of Lent?
It is because Lent is not only about sacrifice but about transformation, and the Transfiguration shows us the destination of our journey.
Before Jesus goes to Calvary, before the suffering and the Cross, He allows His closest disciples to glimpse His glory. He strengthens them in advance and reveals who He truly is, not just a teacher, not just a prophet, but the beloved Son of the Father.
Lent works the same way for us. We walk through sacrifice, self denial, and repentance but always with the hope of glory. The Cross leads to Resurrection. The mountain of Transfiguration prepares us for the hill of Calvary.
Peter, overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment, says, “Lord, it is good that we are here.” He wants to remain in that place of light. But Jesus does not allow them to stay. They must come down the mountain. They must continue the journey.
There are moments in our lives when we also experience clarity, peace, or deep awareness of God’s presence. But faith is not lived only on the mountaintop. It is lived in our ordinary days, in struggles, in responsibilities, and sometimes in confusion. The Transfiguration reminds us that even when we descend into the valley, the glory of Christ remains real.
Gratitude as the Foundation for a Transformed Life
(HERE WE BORROW THE DAILY BREAD TEACHINGS BY FR EUSTACE SIAME SDB)
As we come to the end of the month of February, it has become our tradition to dedicate this day to gratitude. And this fits beautifully with today’s Gospel.
Gratitude is not just a polite habit. It is a spiritual posture, the foundation of a transformed life.
When Peter saw the glory of Christ, his heart overflowed. That is what gratitude does, it opens our eyes to see God’s presence.
Today we pause and look back over the month. We thank God for what He has done, the obvious blessings and the quiet graces we may have missed. Every breath we have taken, every strength to rise after failure, every door opened, every door closed for our protection and every unseen mercy.
Scripture tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This does not mean pretending that pain does not exist. A grateful heart does not deny suffering. Instead, it chooses to trust that God is present even in the middle of imperfect moments.
Gratitude changes how we see life. When we focus only on what is missing, delayed, or difficult, our hearts become heavy. But when we acknowledge what has already been given, something shifts inside us. We realize that God has been faithful sometimes quietly, sometimes in ways we only understand later.
In Lent, gratitude becomes especially powerful.
When we fast with gratitude, our sacrifice becomes love instead of complaint.
When we pray with gratitude, our hearts soften.
When we give alms with gratitude, pride loosens its grip.
Gratitude humbles us, reminding us that everything is gift. Even our ability to begin again comes from God’s mercy.
The disciples on the mountain were filled with awe. They fell on their faces. But Jesus touched them and said, “Rise, and have no fear.” That gentle touch is the same mercy that has carried us through this month in ways both seen and unseen.
If we are honest, we can say that Christ’s mercy has sustained us. He has been at work even when we were confused. He has been faithful even when we were distracted. He has guided us even when we could not see the full picture.
Gratitude strengthens our faith for the days ahead. When we remember what God has already done, we trust Him more with what is still uncertain.
And this is important for Lent. The journey ahead may involve sacrifice. It may reveal areas where we need conversion. It may challenge our comfort. But if gratitude is our foundation, we will walk forward with hope instead of fear.
The Transfiguration shows us who Christ is. Gratitude helps us recognize what He is already doing in our lives.
Living the Message This Week
As we continue this first week of Lent, we can ask ourselves:
- Do I take time to notice God’s quiet blessings?
- Am I willing to listen to the Father’s voice: “Listen to Him”?
- Do I allow gratitude to soften my heart and prepare it for transformation?
Transformation does not happen overnight. It happens slowly, through daily faithfulness, through prayer, repentance, sacrifice, and thanksgiving.
We may not see our own faces shining like the sun, but when Christ is at work in us, something changes. Pride decreases. Patience grows. Faith deepens. Love becomes more generous.
That is the true transfiguration God desires the quiet transformation of our hearts.
Let us Pray
Heavenly Father,
As we stand at the beginning of this Lenten journey, we thank You. Thank You for carrying us through this past month. Thank You for every grace received, every lesson learned, and every mercy we did not even recognize.
Help us to be grateful people. Open our eyes to see Your presence in both the light and the shadows. When we are tempted to complain, teach us to give thanks. When we feel weak, remind us that Your grace has already sustained us.
Lord Jesus, as You were transfigured on the mountain, transform our hearts during this Lent. Teach us to listen to You. Strengthen us for the journey ahead. And when we descend into the ordinary struggles of life, help us to remember the glory that awaits.
May gratitude be the foundation of our renewal, and may this season lead us closer to You.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.