His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. – Matthew 17:2

       In one of the retreats I gave for a graduating high school class, I did something that gave a big boost to the students. Some were afraid of not graduating, so I held a mock graduation ceremony. I called their names one by one, made them come up to the platform, handed them a “diploma,” made them bow and shake the hands of their teachers and classmates who lined up to congratulate them. I even had the Aida March playing all throughout.

       It felt so real to them that almost everyone cried. “Their faces shone like the sun and their clothes looked as white as light.” It was a “vision of hope” that gave them resolve to finish what they had started, and for their teachers and classmates to help them more.

    And what do you know? All of them did march on their actual graduation day, just as we had done at their retreat.

       Jesus is the Master of giving hope to others. When He transfigured before His key Apostles, He was giving them that much needed vision of hope, something that they could hold on to when trials and sufferings came.

Reflection: Close your eyes. See your dreams fulfilled. Capture that image. And make that your vision of hope.

Dear Lord, as I go through my challenges in life, I fix my eyes on You and see the wonderful vision of great things to come in my life.

St. Hormisdas, pope, pray for us. 

Fire, light, various visions, clouds and so on are images that traditionally indicate an epiphany. The Transfiguration is precisely that — an epiphany or manifestation of the Lordship of Jesus. Peter, James and John are in a privileged place to see this revelation. It will stay with them for the rest of their lives as a moment when their conviction as to the identity of Jesus was affirmed in a new way.

9 As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as

wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. 10 A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. 13 As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, 14 the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

R: The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth.

1 The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. (R) 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. (R) 9 Because you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. (R)

Peter says it well in words that could have been: “We have witnessed these things with our own eyes and we are utterly convinced that what we proclaim is the truth.” The same is true for each of us. We have all seen, at one time or another, the power of God at work in our own lives or in the lives of others. This should strengthen our conviction that the Gospel is the way of truth and give us the courage to proclaim it wherever we go.

16 Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

The appearance of Moses and Elijah could well have been the most amazing aspect of this experience for the disciples. Here are the two major figures of the Old Testament, the Jewish faith, and they see them with their own eyes. There is no way that they will forget this moment. Like all times of revelation, we should remember them for what they are – moments that change us for the better, moments that mark turning points in our lives.

This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.

1 Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” 8 And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

think:  Times of revelation are moments that change us for the better.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Maccabees 13-14

HAVE YOU BEEN TRANSFIGURED?

I sometimes wonder what the point of the Transfiguration of Jesus is. I remember Elijah and Moses and the importance of those two streams of tradition in the Old Testament — the Spirit and the Law, respectively. It is essential to the understanding of the Jewish faith, and hence our Christian history, to realize that these two streams of revelation and thought are inextricably entwined together, in a similar way to which we talk about the Scriptures and Tradition in the Catholic Church.

       The two speak to and draw from each other. One cannot reach its fulfillment without the other. Jesus brings the two Old Testament streams together in that He is the fulfillment of the traditions of the Law and Spirit, and then He is also the basis for the two Christian sources of revelation — the Scriptures and Tradition. Jesus is the key that unlocks the truest meaning of both pairs of revelation. This is why the Catholic Church teaches that there is no more new revelation after the death of the last Apostle, as this is the last physical contact with the person of Jesus. Knowledge of Jesus becomes thirdhand after the death of the last Apostle.

       The Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church are the sources by which Christians live as disciples of Jesus. Through a thorough study of both, we can become one with Jesus’ life and, thus, be a place where the Gospel message shines brightly for all. We are called to unite our lives with Christ so that we can become the shining beacons of the revelation of the Good News of Salvation that Jesus brought to the world. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you ready to be transfigured with Jesus on His cross and in His resurrection and so shine the light of the Gospel into the world?

Jesus, help me to open my heart and mind to the transforming power and love of Your Spirit so that I will always be a beacon of light, shining with the Good News for all the world to see.