Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Book of the Prophet Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6 92, 2 Peter 1:16-19, &

Mark 9:2-10

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus is one of the Gospel events that steps out of the ordinary, just as the account of the Baptism of Jesus by his cousin, John. Both events involve the presence of the divine and the divinely inspired. I think of the Transfiguration as something like "coming attractions." The event occurs near the end of Jesus' public ministry and foreshadows future events of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Jesus leads three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, into this unique scene, and then extraordinary events unfold before their eyes. Jesus is "transfigured before them, and His clothes became dazzling white." Peter acknowledged what he saying, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here?" Then a cloud, the ancient sign of the very presence of God, overshadowed them, and then they heard God's voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him."

WOW! What is going on here? From our perspective, we can look back and declare that the disciples were given a preview of the glory that belongs to Jesus after His death and resurrection in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. They could not know, at that moment, that it is the same glory that they will be given after they bring the message of the Kingdom to their contemporaries.

Now, I usually think of the "glory" of Jesus at the moment of the Transfiguration as connected with His resurrection. In truth, BOTH the suffering, death, AND resurrection represent the glory the Son has received from the Father. Below are a few examples of what I mean:

Transfiguration: Crucifixion:

Jesus revealed in glory Jesus revealed in shame

His clothes are shining white His clothes are ripped off

Jesus with Moses and Elijah Jesus with the two thieves

Surrounded by a Shining cloud Darkness fell over the land

The lists for both the "Transfiguration and Crucifixion" experiences are numerous, and we must be attentive to both experiences. We must remember the same glory shines through these events for us—if we let it in. By doing so, we let Christ in at every level of our lives.

Question of the Day: Will you be attentive to Jesus's light when you are in a dark place?

Prayer: Lord, help me to see the reality of Christ's life, death, and resurrection in my own life. Let me be more deeply aware of Jesus' presence so that I, too, one day will share in His glory.

Amen.

Prosit