Transfiguration

Transfiguration of the Lord, Cycle A

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Today we celebrate Our Lord’s transfiguration, the moment where he gave his closest disciples a glimpse of his divinity and glory in order to help them for the ordeals of his Passion that were about to come.

Today’s First Reading recalls the prophet Daniel’s vision of one “like a Son of man” receiving a lasting dominion and glory from the “Ancient One,” long before the Incarnation. This prophecy concerned the Messiah appearing before God the Father in glory. Note the nuances of the language. He is “like” a Son of man. In prophetic language “Son of man” refers to human beings, yet this Messiah is “like” a human being. Christ is truly God and truly man: he is “like a Son of man.” The night his Passion begins, standing before the Sanhedrin, he quotes the passage of Scripture to identify himself as the Messiah, and the Sanhedrin condemns him for blasphemy, even though he has spoken the truth: “the high priest said to him, ‘I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘You have said so. But I tell you: From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, ‘He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?’ They said in reply, ‘He deserves to die!’” (Matthew 26:63–66).”

In today’s Second Reading Peter recalls the experience he had on the mountaintop to remind the believers that the wonders of the Lord’s earthly life we not just myths, but events. The first listeners of Peter were familiar with the pagan gods that surrounded them and the myths that tried to fuel their existence in the minds of the pagan believers. Our Lord was not a myth: he was born in Bethlehem, lived in Galilee, preached the Kingdom through Palestine, and died on Calvary. He was also Transfigured on a mountaintop and raised from the dead. There were eyewitnesses to both the Lord Transfigured and the Lord Risen. All believers are not just repeating myths, but handing on testimony, as the Apostles did.

In today’s Gospel the Lord reveals his divinity and glory to his closest disciples: Peter, James, and John. It’s an event recalled in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew’s account the Lord’s clothing becomes as white as light. John in the prologue to his Gospel described the Lord as the true light that enlightens every man. Christ is not only illuminated, but illuminating. The Lord is flanked by Moses and by Elijah to show that he is the culmination of the Law (represented by Moses) and the prophets (represented by Elijah). They converse with Jesus and show their deference to him. It’s interesting that Peter says something to Jesus in “reply”: Jesus doesn’t seem to have said anything, but the scene speaks to Peter and he struggles to formulate an adequate response in the face of so much glory. Maybe a shrine? This gradually paints the portrait that Our Lord is not only worthy of glory, but divine. He clothes don’t just radiate light, but his face as well. The Messiah is not just an incredible man; he is God. If there was not already enough evidence of his divinity the voice of the Father booms from Heaven and declares Jesus to be his beloved and pleasing Son, worthy of their attention. That’s too much for the apostles, who fall prostrate in fear. Almost as soon as it happens it is over: Jesus gets them up, tells them to not be afraid, but also makes sure they will recount the vision to the others after he is risen from the dead. Even the Transfiguration is an event meant for everyone, not just a trusted few.

Our Lord on that mountaintop was flanked by Moses, Elijah, Peter, John, and James. He was praised by God the Father. Our Lord was at the center on that mountaintop because he is the center of everything. Salvation history prepared for him and salvation history was never the same after his Incarnation. The Law prepared for his coming, the prophets testified to him and what he would do. The Apostles gave witness to who he was, what he did, and what he said, with the testimony we’ve received from the evangelists regarding this event as a case in point. However, before all this, the Father created the world with his Son in mind. If the Lord is at the center of your life, everything will fall into place and click, not necessarily according to your plans, but according to God’s plans, which are the best plans for you. Peter needed lots of time to process this, and he betrayed Our Lord and reconciled with him between the event on the mountaintop and his testimony in today’s Second Reading. Start processing and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. No matter how often the Lord is “off-center” in your life you can always put him back at the center.

Readings: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 97:1–2, 5–6, 9; 2 Peter 1:16–19 Matthew 17:1–9.

Transfiguration of the Lord, Cycle C

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In today’s Second Reading Peter reminds the first generations of Christians (and us) that the Transfiguration was not a myth, but, rather, an event. It was an event to which he was an eye-witness as well as a participant. In the ancient world myths were attempts to articulate religious beliefs and sentiments. In the case of the Greeks, they themselves eventually stopping believing in those myths as real events when they came under rational and philosophical scrutiny. In the language of today myth means invented.

Christianity is not a myth. Jesus Christ was born, lived in Palestine two thousand years ago, and died. Even if you don’t believe in him as the Christ history testified to his earthly life. However, he also rose from the dead and ascended into glory, and a “cloud of witnesses” testify to that fact (see Hebrews 12:1). Some have accused us of embellishing historical events to give them mythic proportions, and tales of the Transfiguration and Resurrection seem to them to be myths, but a myth never transformed history as much or as profoundly as Christianity and its founder. There’s nothing “clever” about testifying to the Risen and Glorified Christ to the point of martyrdom, as St. Peter did, if it was all invented or embellished.

Christianity is an event, even today, that spans eternity and history, just as the Transfiguration did. Inspired by Our Lord’s history as well as his glory let’s not be shy about testifying to the events of salvation history.

Readings: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 97:1–2, 5–6, 9; 2 Peter 1:16–19; Luke 9:28b–36. See also 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C and Transfiguration of the Lord, Cycle B.

Transfiguration of the Lord, Cycle B

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On today’s feast we celebrated Our Lord giving his closest disciples a glimpse of his glory in order to strengthen them for the trials that were to come. Peter would betray Jesus, then be forgiven by him and entrusted with Jesus’  entire flock. James would be the first martyr among the Apostles. John would be the apostle who lived the longest, yet desired to be with the Lord both on earth and on Heaven the most: this would be one of the experiences that would lead him to write two books of the New Testament: a gospel and the book of Revelation.

When Our Lord becomes transfigured on the mountaintop he is letting them see his divinity shine through. He is flanked by Elijah, representing all the prophets, and Moses, representing the Law. The Law and the prophets were two of the greatest pillars of Jewish belief, and Our Lord shows his disciples today that he is the culmination of all that the Law and the Prophets taught about the Messiah and about God. As the letter to the Hebrews reminds us, “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2). Our Lord now brings us the definitive truth about God, fulfilling the Law and the prophets.

In moments of prayer Our Lord permits us at times to have a glimpse of his glory. We can respond enthusiastically, like Peter in today’s Gospel, but also with some fear and confusion at receiving such a wonderful revelation from Our Lord. The Heavenly Father tells us what our response should be in today’s Gospel: listen to His Son. Let’s ask for the grace today to listen to whatever Our Lord wishes to tell us.

Readings: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 97:1–2, 5–6, 9; 2 Peter 1:16–19; Mark 9:2–10.