2nd Sunday of Lent

Our Gospel, Matthew 17:1-9, tells us about the Transfiguration of our Lord before His three disciples on a mountain. The said Transfiguration is a revelation that Jesus is not an ordinary person, but a Son of God. Upon knowing the true person of Jesus, Peter in behalf of the disciples rejoiced believing that there would be no more bad days in their lives as long as they stayed with Jesus. In fact, Peter would even love to see Jesus safe and unharmed with Moses and Elijah. For Peter, nothing could be against them if Jesus would be with them. Yet, Jesus Himself led them down the mountain and told them to tell no one about the vision they witnessed. This act of going down shows that Jesus was telling Peter and all the disciples that even if they are with the Son of God, they should not feel comfortable with their lives. There would always be these times in their lives that problems and conflict arise and they need to deal with them patiently. To deal patiently means that problems and conflict must not destroy who they are as a person, but rather build up their Christian character. Instead of being disfigured by the troubles of life, they have to transfigure to reveal to others that they are the true followers of the Son of God; that they are good Christians.

In my recent experience, I happened to go to a drive thru of one of the fast-food chains in Aklan. I remembered while I was at the counter I had these two cards with me which I freely received during my past visits in the said chain. In fact, I have been visiting the said place almost every day!!! These two cards gave me the privilege to get a free sundae for every card. Mathematically, I had two cards so I expected to get two sundaes. I followed the instruction stated on the card that in every single receipt of the targeted amount, a card holder may get a free sundae. In short, I had this single receipt with the targeted amount and I had these two cards with me so I could avail the two free sundaes. But the crew refused to accept all my cards and insisted that I should just give her one card to avail one sundae only. When I saw her frowning at me, immediately I got irritated. I asked her to call her superior who was there at that time. Her superior wanted to give me two sundaes for the two cards yet the crew insisted that they must accept only one card for every single receipt. I could sense that there was no exact rule for their promo. It was then at that moment that I told both of them that I would not insist anymore for two sundaes. I took off knowing my time is worth more than any sundae. The next day when I had my breakfast at the said chain, I saw that same crew at the counter. I approached her and I noticed she wore a different nametag. I told her that I could still remember her as the crew at the drive thru. After saying it, I just smiled.

My dear friends, this experience was crucial for me to choose either to disfigure or to transfigure my person. I know that with my personality, I could not allow someone to offend me without me seeking for vindication. It is difficult for me to let go of the person who causes my irritation. But on this occasion, I chose to transcend beyond my personality. I wish to see the person in me and not just my personality. The person which I wish to see in me despite the many difficult circumstances in my life is no other than my identity as a Christian. I wish I could treat all people as a good Christian and in a similar way, those people could say that I am indeed a good Christian. Amen.