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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; from the cloud came
a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Mark 9:5–7
Just prior to the Transfiguration, Jesus began to reveal to His
disciples that He would suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders,
be killed and then rise on the third day. This caused much fear for
the disciples as they grappled with this unsettling revelation from
our Lord. And even though Jesus remained firm with them and even
rebuked Peter for his fear, Jesus also gave three of His disciples
a very precious gift.
After much traveling, preaching, miracle working and private
conversations about His passion with the Twelve, Jesus invited
Peter, James and John to go with Him up a high mountain to pray.
These disciples most likely had no idea what they would soon
encounter.
As they made the difficult and arduous journey, their minds must
have been pondering not only the mighty deeds done by Jesus in the
previous months but also His words about the suffering to come. As
they struggled with this, much to their amazement, Jesus “was
transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.”
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, representing the
Law and the prophets. These two Old Testament figures appeared as a
way of saying to these disciples that everything that Jesus was
telling them was to take place to fulfill all that had been
foretold about Him from of old. Perhaps Jesus thought that if His
disciples would not fully listen to Him, then seeing Moses and
Elijah would help. But Jesus went even further. The Voice of the
Father Himself thundered and said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen
to him.” Thus, if these disciples would not ultimately listen to
Jesus alone, or if even Moses and Elijah failed to convince them,
then the last hope was the Father Himself. And Jesus delivered such
a grace.
The Transfiguration was a true mercy. These disciples had never
seen anything like it before. But it was most likely this act of
mercy that ultimately helped them to accept the hard truth that
Jesus was trying to teach them about His coming suffering and
death. If the Father in Heaven Personally gave witness to Jesus,
then everything that Jesus had said was trustworthy.
As we read through the Gospels and the many teachings God has given
us through the Church, think about whether there are some teachings
with which you struggle? Or in your own life, on a personal level,
are there some things you know God wants of you but you find it
difficult to accept? When confusion sets in, that means we are not
listening, are not fully hearing what God is saying to us or are
not understanding. And though we will not see the Transfigured Lord
with our eyes and hear the Voice of the Father with our ears as
these three disciples did, we must choose to believe all that God
has said as if it were the Transfigured Lord, with Moses and
Elijah, and the Father Himself speaking clearly and directly to us.
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Those words were not only
spoken for the good of the disciples, they are also spoken to
us.
Reflect, today, upon this powerful experience given to these
disciples by our Lord. Try to place yourself in the scene so as to
witness Jesus transfigured in the most glorious way, with Moses and
Elijah and with the thundering Voice of the Father. Allow the
Father to speak also to you, telling you that all He has spoken
through the Scriptures, the Church and within your own conscience
is true. Allow this revelation to convince you on the deepest level
to acknowledge not only the divinity of Jesus but also to “Listen
to Him” in every way.
My transfigured Lord, You are glorious beyond imagination, and
You revealed a small glimpse of this glory to Your disciples to
help them trust You more fully. May I also trust in You more
completely, knowing that all You have spoken to me is true. Please
remove any doubt and fear in my life so that nothing keeps me from
embracing Your holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: Transfiguration By Duccio di
Buoninsegna, via Wikimedia Commons
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