A Franciscan Gospel Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent 2026 is shared here for your prayer. What do you think was going through the mind of the three disciples as they were coming down the mountain?
The Gospel background and reflection questions are prepared and distributed by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF and Joe Thiel, as edited from Reflections authored by Fr. Paul Gallagher, OFM. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection March 1 2026
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photos: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Background:
On the First Sunday of Lent (last Sunday), the Church always reflects on the Gospel accounts of Jesus being tempted. In a similar fashion, on the Second Sunday of Lent, one of the accounts of the Transfiguration of Jesus is always presented. This year, both of these accounts come from the Gospel of Matthew. As presented last week in Matthew’s Gospel, the last temptation is Satan taking Jesus “up to a very high mountain,” where the devil tells Jesus that he will give to him all that he can see, if he will worship him (Matt 4:8). In today’s Gospel, we again find Jesus, this time with his favored disciples, Peter, James and John, up a high mountain.
The mountain is a place of special encounter with God, and the connection with Moses and the events of the Exodus are part of the big picture as Matthew describes the transfiguration. Matthew’s description connects Jesus to his community’s understanding of Moses’ role and his relationship with God. Matthew also presents Jesus as more important than Moses. While the faces of both Moses and Jesus became radiant from their encounter with God, it is only Jesus whose garments also “became white as light.” This also links the Transfiguration to Jesus’ Resurrection. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary enter the empty tomb of Jesus, they are greeted by an angel whose appearance is described as “like lightning, with clothing as white as snow (Matt 28:3).”
The twofold response of the disciples at the Transfiguration is, first, a wish to stay in this moment (on the mountain), and, second, they are fearful. The disciples are privileged to experience their own “mountaintop encounter” with God. They see Jesus transfigured before them alongside the greatest prophet (Elijah) and the greatest lawgiver (Moses) of their tradition. Of course, they want to stay there! In their minds, what experience of God would be greater than this? But, there is also fear, which is not a surprising response, when God speaks. Jesus’ response to such fear, just as he did for the two Marys at the resurrection, is a touch, along with the reassuring words, “Do not be afraid.”
“And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them ‘Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” (Matt 28:9-10)
As Matthew describes the Transfiguration, he links it to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (like the mountaintop temptation), and to the culmination of his ministry. In the closing line of the text, Jesus tells the disciples:
“Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man had been raised from the dead.”
People who tend to be uncomfortable with visions and dreams as privileged places of God’s revelation are given a wonderful opportunity in today’s Gospel to reflect on the way God is striving to be present to them, and to ponder their openness and/or resistance to God’s presence.
Reflection Questions:
- What is your experience of climbing mountains?
- Do you think that the disciples thought of Moses and others who climbed mountains to experience God as they were ascending this mountain with Jesus? If they did, what kind of thoughts or feelings might they have had as they climbed?
- What would have been your thoughts if you were with them?
- Peter suggested that they stay there with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. If you were among them, what would you be thinking and feeling as Peter makes this suggestion?
- What do you think was going through the mind of the three disciples as they were coming down the mountain?
- Jesus tells them not to speak of their experience “until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” If you were one of them, how would you understand this statement? How would you feel as Jesus says this to you?
- Have there been times when you felt like you were in a very special relationship with God? How have you talked about it? To whom have you spoken?
- Do you desire the experience of Transfiguration, or are you content to “wait at the bottom” with the other disciples?
- Does this Gospel help you to appreciate the season of Lent, and what your journey through this season is about? Can you take some time to talk with God about God’s desire for you during this season?
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