The Transfiguration of the Lord

 

 

My dear parishioners,

 

God is Good!!!  All the Time!!!  And All the Time!!!  God is Good!!!

 

Up to this point in his book, Daniel has successfully interpreted the visions received by kings. Now he himself receives a vision. But the interpretation will have to come from a heavenly messenger. Like other visions in the book, this one features divine protection for God’s faithful people.

The story describing the event on this feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord is taken from Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew has Jesus refer to the narrative as a “vision.” Its purpose is to identify Jesus as the Son of God as well as to show that he is the fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Jesus is transfigured. The actual event of the Transfiguration is described rather sparsely. It takes place on a high mountain that is not identified, but that is typical of divine manifestations. Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus up the mountain. These three disciples are traditionally with Jesus at all the major moments of his ministry. Jesus is transfigured before them. The process of transfiguration is  described in terms of bright light and clothing. Theologically, this process makes up the vision that gives those present a glimpse of who Jesus really is in terms of his divine nature. This understanding will only be made public after Jesus has been raised from the dead. In a way, the Transfiguration gives a quick view of the end of the story before it has actually ended.

The fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Moses and Elijah are depicted as being present in this vision that the apostles are witnessing. Moses traditionally represents the law (Torah) and Elijah traditionally represents the prophets. They are conversing with Jesus, who is understood to be the fulfillment of both the law and the prophets. Peter does not understand all this and he mistakes what he has seen as somehow related to the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, symbolizing the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land and the small booths they lived in.

This is my beloved Son. While Moses is still speaking, a cloud overshadows them and a voice is heard coming from that cloud. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This is the apex of the vision. This voice of God identifies Jesus as God’s Son. All are to listen to him. The response of the disciples is fear, and they immediately prostrate themselves. Jesus himself consoles them and encourages them not to be afraid. They are instructed, however, not to say anything about what they have seen. This vision cannot be appropriately understood until after Jesus’ resurrection.

Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org.©2016. All rights reserved

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius