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Day 10 (Saturday) - “Listen to My Son”

Among the events of Jesus’ life on earth, none was more revealing than his “Transfiguration” on the mountain.  Jesus had returned with all of his disciples from Caesarea Philippi, after the great confession of Peter when he said of who Jesus was – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16).  Back in Israel, he took his disciples to Galilee, and then on to the south of Galilee near Mount Tabor.  I have walked on Mount Tabor which is a small mountain that sticks out of the flat Galilean countryside like a sore thumb. 

When they arrived, Jesus told nine of his disciples to stay where they would camp, and he took Peter, James, and John up the mountain.  The three were probably not prepared for what was to happen.  The scripture records the event:

“…after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
 He was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only” (Matthew 17:1-8).

The word “transfigured” comes from the Greek word, “metamorphoō” – of which I’m sure you can see the English word “metamorphosis”.  While Peter had previously said “You are the Christ”, he was speaking of Jesus as the human promise of God to send the Messiah.  What they probably didn’t grasp is that Jesus was not only human but also divine! When Jesus was transfigured in front of them, they saw what Jesus looked like when he was in heaven, before coming to earth to be born of the virgin.

The transfiguration includes the appearance of Moses and Elijah – the principal human agents of God’s Law and the Prophets.  Still, it’s the words that the Father speaks that should draw our attention – “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  Previously the Father had spoken the beginning words of “this is my beloved son” at Jesus’ baptism, but now adds the words “listen to Him”.

In the 5th century, the Church appointed a Bishop who became known as “Leo, the Great”.  One of the more memorable things of his Papacy over the Church is that he negotiated with Attila, the Hun, who was marauding Europe and persuaded him to leave Rome alone.  He wrote countless treatises, sermons, and doctrinal material to maintain the orthodox faith of the Church.  One such writing was on this event of the transfiguration of Christ Jesus.

“The Lord reveals his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses. His body is like that of the rest of mankind, but he makes it shine with such splendor that his face becomes like the sun in glory, and his garments as white as snow.  The great reason for this transfiguration was to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of his disciples and to prevent the humiliation of his voluntary suffering from disturbing the faith of those who had witnessed the surpassing glory that lay concealed.

With no less forethought, he was also providing a firm foundation for the hope of the holy Church. The whole body of Christ was to understand the kind of transformation that it would receive as his gift. The members of that body were to look forward to a share in that glory which first blazed out in Christ their head.

The Lord had himself spoken of this when he foretold the splendor of his coming: Then the just will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Saint Paul the apostle bore witness to this same truth when he said: I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not to be compared with the future glory that is to be revealed in us. In another place, he says: You are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

There are several descriptions of Christ Jesus in the scriptures, but the transfiguration reminds us of where he came from, and where he was going.

Peace

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