(The readings for this day can be found here)
Mt 17: 1-9 Reflection
Feast of the Transfiguration
Listening to God, like Abraham, and keeping in mind the words of the father in today’s gospel; “This is my son, the Beloved, listen to him.”
Jesus feels that his top Apostles need a good recollection and so Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them up a high Mountain where they could be alone.
Mt Tabor looks like a quiet place offering silence and solitude far from all distractions, to fortify the faith of Peter, James, and John. A good spiritual input. Jesus wants to clarify the meaning of his mission which is contrary to what is apostles have in mind. The Apostles would come to understand and believe that the passion did not mean that Jesus was not God. Nor did it mean that God had abandoned their master. Peter, James, and John were held to secrecy because Jesus knew that the others would not even believe them let alone understand the meaning of the Transfiguration. But after the resurrection they would be allowed to reveal this mysterious event which could be understood in the light of the resurrection.
The Transfiguration reveals clearly that when we suffer, it does not mean that God does not love us. This was so contrary to the Old Testament beliefs that suffering was seen as a curse of God.
All three Synoptic gospel carry this story, such a lovely story, which the early Christians never tired of hearing and which fortified their faith. Every year, Liturgy offers us the Transfiguration because the church wants us to enter more deeply in to the Paschal Mystery which Jesus shared with Moses, Elijah, and the Apostles. And today with us!
Indeed Moses and Elijah converse with Jesus about his coming Exodus in Jerusalem. Luke says it clearly. “They were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem” Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets, that is, all the people of the Old Testament who had thirsted for the Messiah.
The key word in the Transfiguration is the verb Listen. The Father is telling the Apostles: This is my beloved son; with him I am well pleased; Listen to him. The Father repeats the words heard at the Baptism of Jesus: “you are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” The only difference is that they are now addressed to the Apostles in the 3rd person. This is my son, the Beloved; listen to him. We can hear an echo of Deuteronomy where the lord tells Moses:
“I will rise up a prophet like you and put my words in his mouth, he shall tell all that I command him. If any person will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.” Deut 18: 17-19.
What happened? Was the Transfiguration a glimpse of Christ’s divinity? Was it the ecstasy of Jesus at being confirmed in his mission by his father?
Moses’ face was also brilliant when he came down from Mt Sinai after speaking with the lord. He had to shield it from the people. But that light came from outside, from the lord. Not so with Jesus. Jesus however, shines from within; he does not simply receive light, but he himself is light.