Transfiguration Challenges Us On The Unknown

This weekend the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the transfiguration.  It reminds me of a young man who left Trinidad to study and work overseas who because of a deep inferiority complex felt that he was not appreciated in his own country. He eventually graduated from university having done extremely well but did not return to Trinidad. He was encouraged by persons who knew him and knew his worth to come back home. His reply was always I am not ready yet. The truth was that he was afraid of returning, of leaving a very good job, of leaving a place where he was highly respected, not knowing how he would be received. He would often say “No prophet is accepted in his own country and among his own kinsfolk.” Finally one day he was persuaded to return. He returned and has done and continues to do a tremendous job among his people.

The Gospel passage given to us for our meditation this weekend is one which we all know very well. It is the story of the transfiguration. Jesus took his three disciples, Peter, James and John up the mountain to pray and there in his prayer, in front of the disciples he is transfigured and they see him with Moses and Elijah. They are speaking about the Exodus that Jesus was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. What is this Exodus? By Jesus’ death and resurrection two things happen. As The Jews were removed from the power of Pharaoh leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, so believers are removed from the power of the devil to journey to a New Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, and all the just who had died before Christ would be released to enter the Kingdom of heaven. This exodus will only be completed however through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

In the transfiguration story, Peter would like to escape the experience of Jesus’ death and resurrection and remain with the experience of the glorified Jesus and so he says; “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” We are told “He did not know what he was saying.” Like the example of that young man with which I began this meditation Peter would like to escape the realities of life; that Jesus would have to suffer in order to enter into his glory. We are then told that “while he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.” Peter had asked to stay up on the mountain but that also was an unknown proposition. Like with most of us, the unknown can fill us with apprehension; would he be doing the correct thing? Were there other possibilities etc? Then a voice comes from heaven; “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” Peter and the other two are given firm directions. Jesus is acknowledged as God’s chosen Son and it is to him and from Him alone that they must now seek directions for their lives and the answers to any problems. For the three disciples this was a tremendous moment. As Jews they had grown accustomed to listening to Moses and the prophets, now they are told that it is to Jesus that they must give allegiance. The old covenant was coming to an end, the New covenant was about to be inaugurated in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

This transfiguration story holds a tremendous lesson for us. As we face the difficulties of life, there are so many voices which call to us for allegiance promising salvation and ultimate glory, some of these voices are from the Old Testament, others from the evil one. The Gospel reminds us that the only voice to which we must listen is the voice of the Chosen Son, Jesus Christ.

This is the lesson of the lives of saints like St. Thomas More and many others. In the midst of all the voices competing for their allegiance, they listened to the voice of Christ. May all of us in the midst of the competing voices be these political or social or intellectual or religious always listen to the voice of Christ.

Prayer

All powerful and ever-loving God, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the mount of the transfiguration speaking with him of the Exodus that he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. They were prophets of the truth preparing Jesus for the New Covenant which was to be signed by Jesus’ death and Resurrection. As a consequence of the New Covenant, the disciples were told to listen now to Jesus, the chosen Son. Today Lord, there are many false prophets who try to take us away or to blind us to the New Covenant signed in the blood of Jesus. Just as you told the disciples during the moment of the transfiguration, give us now the grace that will convince us that we must listen to Jesus and him alone. Help us to reject the false prophets who will only lead us to perdition. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother and Jesus, your chosen son. Amen

Gospel  – Luke  9: :28b-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.