THE GLORY OF CHRIST
The transfiguration is the manifestation of the glory of Christ on earth. What a grace for Peter and James and John to see Jesus transfigured. They got a preview of the glory of Jesus rising from the dead and his glory in heaven. It was also a preview of the glory we all hope to share in heaven. This was a very special grace for Peter and James and John and indeed for all of us.
OUR THEME
The common theme of today’s readings is the metamorphosis or transformation of Christ by the empowering of God the Father Who sent His Son as our Saviour and Redeemer. Today’s Gospel, describing Christ’s Transfiguration, challenges us to revitalize our Faith as true Disciples of Christ, just as the passages from Daniel and II Peter were written to strengthen the Faith of their audiences in times of persecution.
FIRST READING: DANIEL 7: 9-10, 13-14
Prophet Daniel gave an account of the Ancient One of Days, the Consuming Fire of Israel in his flammable throne of glory, power, majesty and might bearing witness to the One like the Son of man coming in the cloud of heavens as an eternal King of Ages with everlasting Kingdom.
The first reading, taken from the Book of Daniel, spreads out before us Daniel’s vision of God’s glorious Heavenly Court of Judgment. The Transfiguration is a prefiguring of Christ’s glorification by God the Father in the Court of Heaven after Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
SECOND READING: 2 PETER 1: 16-19
In the second reading, St. Peter argues, in his Second Letter to the Church, that the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (at which the voice of God the Father was heard by the three apostles, verses 16-18), and the testimony of the Old Testament prophets (in the Messianic prophecies), are the guarantee of the doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming.
Hence, St. Peter debunked any mythological claims about the power or person of Christ Jesus, illustrating vividly his experience with the transfigured and glorified Christ: Risen Lord of glory, power, authority, dominion, majesty and Mighty.
THE GOSPEL: MT. 17: 1-9
In the transfiguration narrative, Jesus and three of his disciples ascend a tall mountain, where Jesus is transformed and his garments become radiant white. The voice of God comes from a cloud, identifying Jesus as the beloved Son of God and instructing the disciples to listen to Jesus.
Jesus during his public ministry preached the good news that challenged the religious status quo of his time. He taught the truth that reveals God’s love and His will for man. Thereby exposing the hypocrisy and falsity of man about what God is not. He healed, restored and touched lives to the envy and jealousy of the religious power and authority of his time.
The price for all this was the hardest truth of all ages. The malicious, merciless and crudest death in the hands of religious powers and authorities who felt threatened by his way of life: preaching, teaching and healing.
Jesus realized this, hence before his transfiguration, he started predicting death and resurrection.
THIS IS THE CONTEXT OF THE TRANSFIGURATION.
(a) First, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ: the climax of Jesus’ public ministry and a turning point in the story of His life. (Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21) and he cautioned that this Messianic revelation should be revealed to anyone.
(b) Second, Jesus begins to prepare the mind of his disciples of what awaits him- announcing that He must die on the cross and rise from the dead in three days (Matthew 16:21-26, Mark 8:31-37, Luke 9:22-25).
(c) This way of redemption by the cross and death was incomprehensible to the disciples. Especially, Simon Peter who rebuked Jesus for speaking of death (Matthew 16:22; Mark 8:32).
(d) Then, Jesus declares that some of those with Him will see the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27).
(e) Six days later after the incidents near Caesarea Philippi. — Luke writes “about eight days later” (Luke 9:28) — Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him to a high mountain where He is transfigured before them, appearing with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36).
(f) Therefore, the transfiguration according to many theologians and biblical experts was God, the Father’s way of showing the disciples and us. That, there is a glorious resurrection that awaits Christ after his suffering and death.
(g) The transfiguration was meant to evict the most scandalous thing – the death of God in the hands of men. Demonstrating a willing death for a course: the salvation of all through his glorious resurrection that was God’s final victory over sin, death and evil. Thanks to the willingness of the Father to sacrifice His only Begotten Son and the Son’s courage to embrace the ultimate will of the Father.
In summary, the readings of this Sunday could be connected like this. Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac is the confirmatory message of the transfiguration where God the Father in his willing to sacrifice His only beloved Son Jesus Christ. By demonstrating Christ’s glory after the cross and death. The redemptive sacrifice that made live above any charges or condemnation of anyone in Christ Jesus.
OUR LESSONS OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
Without the sacrifices of a conscious prayer time, practical penance of denial, fasting and abstinence as well as almsgivings to the less privileged. There can be no glory of EASTER IN US THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
There cannot and there will never be a crown without a cross, gain without pain in the Christian life. Our victory, glory and salvation are closely tied to our willingness to sacrifice all for God and to God.
Yet, the transfiguration was a moment of glory, honour and testimony of the Blessed Trinity: the Father and the Holy Spirit to the glorified Christ who before then shared with his disciple the painful, shameful and rejecting moment that awaits him.
It was also a testifying presence of the heavenly hosts: of Prophet Elijah, Moses and the angels and living witnessing of the apostles: Peter, James and John.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ the transfiguration was meant to demonstrate the glory that waits for you after your passion, suffering and death—sparking up in your disciples an eternal image of the heavenly bliss and glory. May the transfiguring moments of our lives supersede the painful, horrifying moments of life and may your grace help to see beyond our earthly beauty, the indescribable glory that awaits us. Amen
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