Soon after Peter proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah and only a week after Jesus first predicted his own passion and death, Christ’s appearance dramatically and temporarily changed in front of Peter, James, and John. They witnessed Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah and they heard the voice of God the Father call Jesus his Beloved Son for the second time.
All three of the synoptic Gospels record this glorious preview of Jesus’ resurrection in front of his closest Apostles on Mt. Tabor. The Transfiguration revealed that He is the Son of God and that He is also divine Himself.
Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the prophets. Their presence at the Transfiguration shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that had been promised in the Old Covenant.
The Transfiguration of Jesus is the 4th Luminous Mystery of the Rosary and the Gospel account is always read on the 2nd Sunday of Lent as a reminder of the gift of hope.
The Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 6.
A glimpse of Jesus’ true glory:
The glory of God awaits us:
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on Earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
A true fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets:
A new Moses and a new Exodus:
For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter’s confession. He also reveals that He will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to “enter into his glory”. Moses and Elijah had seen God’s glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah’s sufferings. Christ’s Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God’s servant; The cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. “The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church 555
The Transfiguration gives us reason to hope:
The mystery of the Transfiguration strengthens faith:
Strengthened by a vision of who Jesus really is:
The event of the Transfiguration marks a decisive moment in the ministry of Jesus. It is a revelatory event which strengthens the faith in the disciples’ hearts, prepares them for the tragedy of the Cross and prefigures the glory of the Resurrection. This mystery is constantly relived by the Church, the people on its way to the eschatological encounter with its Lord. Like the three chosen disciples, the Church contemplates the transfigured face of Christ in order to be confirmed in faith and to avoid being dismayed at his disfigured face on the Cross. In both cases, she is the Bride before her Spouse, sharing in his mystery and surrounded by his light. This light shines on all the Church’s children. All are equally called to follow Christ, to discover in Him the ultimate meaning of their lives, until they are able to say with the Apostle: “For to me to live is Christ.”
John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, March 25, 1996
Worshipping at the site of Jesus’ Transfiguration high on Mt. Tabor:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Nuns by day. Nurses by night:
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