As we journey deeper into the holy season of Lent, the Church, in her wisdom, provides us with Scripture readings that instruct and encourage us in the pursuit of holiness. The Second Sunday of Lent, Dominica II in Quadragesima, presents us with two powerful passages: St. Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 and St. Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). Together, these readings call us to sanctification and divine transformation, leading us to contemplate both our moral purification and our ultimate glorification in Christ.
The Call to Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7)
St. Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to “abound more and more” in pleasing God, for “this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3). He contrasts the Christian life with that of the pagans, who are enslaved by impurity and the desires of the flesh. The Apostle reminds us that God has not called us to uncleanness but to holiness. This theme is particularly fitting for Lent, a season of purification and detachment from sin.
The Church Fathers consistently emphasize that sanctification is both a divine gift and a moral obligation. St. John Chrysostom warns against complacency, stating:
“To stop growing in virtue is to fall away from it; as a lamp, if it be not fed with oil, is quickly extinguished.” (Homilies on Thessalonians, Homily 5)
The Christian life, then, is not static. We are called to “abound more and more” in grace, resisting sin and striving for perfection. This requires not only abstaining from vice but actively pursuing holiness in thought, word, and deed. St. Augustine adds that true sanctification is impossible without God’s grace, saying:
“He who created thee without thee, will not justify thee without thee.” (Sermon 169, 13)
God calls us to cooperate with His grace. Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving—our Lenten disciplines—are not mere obligations but means of disposing our hearts to divine transformation.
The Transfiguration: A Glimpse of Glory (Matthew 17:1-9)
In the Gospel, Christ takes Peter, James, and John up Mount Tabor and is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun, and His garments become white as light. Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Him. The vision overwhelms the Apostles, and they fall on their faces in fear when the voice of the Father proclaims: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”
The Transfiguration is a foretaste of Christ’s glory and a revelation of His divine nature. It is also a reminder of our own destiny, for as St. Athanasius teaches:
“He was transfigured, not assuming what He was not, but manifesting what He was.” (Oration Against the Arians, III, 52)
Christ did not change on Mount Tabor; rather, His eternal glory was made visible to the disciples. In the same way, our Lenten journey is not about becoming something foreign to ourselves but about allowing the grace of God to reveal and perfect the image of Christ already imprinted in our souls.
St. Leo the Great explains the significance of the Transfiguration in our spiritual life:
“The principal aim of the Transfiguration was to remove the scandal of the Cross from the hearts of His disciples… The Church of Christ must pass through many trials before it enters into glory.” (Sermon 51)
Lent is our own ascent of Mount Tabor, where Christ invites us to behold His glory, but it is also our journey toward Calvary, where we must embrace the Cross before we can share in His Resurrection. Just as Peter wanted to remain in the glory of the Transfiguration, we, too, may seek comfort in spiritual consolations. But the voice of the Father reminds us to listen to Christ, who calls us to follow Him, even unto suffering.
The Path to Glory: The Cross and Sanctification
The connection between these two readings is clear: sanctification is the necessary path to divine glory. The Transfiguration shows us the end for which we strive—union with Christ in His radiant glory—but St. Paul reminds us that this requires purification, rejecting impurity, and growing in holiness.
As St. Gregory of Nyssa teaches:
“From glory to glory advances the one who is always making progress in what is good, and his heart is lifted up to ever higher places by an increase of grace.” (Life of Moses, II)
This Lent, let us heed the words of St. Paul and the vision of the Transfiguration. Let us purify ourselves of all that is unworthy of God, so that we may one day behold His glory. If we follow Christ through the trials of this season, we will find ourselves transformed by His grace, made ready to share in His eternal light.
O Christ, grant us the grace to grow in holiness and to be transformed into Your likeness, that we may one day see You face to face. Amen.