Feast Of Transfiguration

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 
Luke 9:28-36

Today is the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord. The revelation of Jesus as Christ on top of the mountain. On this day, we recall how our Lord took three of his disciples Peter, James and John up the mountain there he was transfigured. It is as beautiful, awesome and yet surprising and mysterious. It is the moment when Christ was transfigured on top of the mountain, a mountain top experience for the disciples of Christ’s glory.

The gospel tells us that this event took place as they were making their journey to Jerusalem upon which he win salvation for us the transfiguration therefore had a profound meaning in the lives of his disciples. This was a new aspect of Jesus as they journeyed along with him to the path of his passion. It is through his passion as he tells them often that he will be glorified. The moment of witnessing Christ’s glory is also the moment when the idea of the Lord’s death and resurrection first breaks on the disciples.

This same aspect is what we read in today’s first reading it was during the time of persecution and crisis the vision came to Daniel. Even if the nations of this world persecute, govern or lead God is the sovereign king over all the nations.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away,nor will his empire ever be destroyed.Daniel 7:14.

Christ’s Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his Passion: the ascent onto the ‘high mountain’ prepares for the ascent to Calvary. (This is why Moses and Elijah have been speaking “about his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.”) Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what his Body contains and radiates in the sacraments: ‘the hope of glory’ [CCC 568]. This also foreshadows Jesus’ own explanation, on the road to Emmaus, of the Scriptures pointing to himself (Luke 24:27, 32).

Pope Benedict XVI commenting on the Transfiguration says,
On the mountain the three of them see the glory of God’s Kingdom shining out of Jesus. On the mountain they are overshadowed by God’s holy cloud. On the mountain—in the conversation of the transfigured Jesus with the Law and the Prophets—they realize that the true Feast of Tabernacles has come. On the mountain they learn that Jesus himself is the living Torah, the complete Word of God. On the mountain they see the ‘power’ (dynamis) of the Kingdom that is coming in Christ (Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1, p. 317)

Perhaps we aspire to return to the mountain-top experiences of our lives . a dose of spiritual exercise would help us calm down, listen to His voice, and do the work He has given us to do. Even if we don’t like where the path leads.  May the transfiguration of the Lord transform our lives for the better. Amen.

Credit:
This article is written by Rev Fr. Joseph Osho OSJ. Please visit his personal blog @ https://www.blogger.com/profile/10377666931103644634
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