Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Today we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Not only do we see Jesus’ glory revealed in the readings today, but we hear about the His relationship with the Father, and how it is from the Father that He receives His glory and blessings. The readings today also invite us to be transformed by listening to Jesus and following Him. As we become more like Him, we too can be a reflection of God’s glory.
In the first reading, the prophet Daniel describes a dream where he sees “One like the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven where he received dominion, glory, and kingship” from the “Ancient One” (Dan 7:13) The reading explains that the Son of Man will be served by all nations and his kingdom will never end. Today’s gospel reading in some ways fulfills this prophesy, since on Mt. Tabor Jesus is glorified and given His Father’s blessings. Peter describes His eyewitness account of this event when he states that “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.’ (2 Peter 1- 17) Peter sees Jesus’ glory, but he also now recognizes that Jesus has been sent by the Father to relay His “prophetic message” (2 Peter 1-19)
Within this Transfiguration experience is also a call to us as disciples. When the Father speaks about Jesus, He tells the disciples to “Listen to Him” (Mark 9:6) Peter explains that he has not received “cleverly devised myths” but the “prophetic message that is altogether reliable.” (2 peter 1: 19) Peter explains that we would “do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place until day dawns.” (2 Peter 1:19) We are reminded that the Word we have been given is a source of life and grace that we should cling to until “the morning star rises in our hearts.” We are called to follow Christ and His ways until He returns again in glory.
So how are we called to respond to these readings? The readings describe Jesus’ glory and power, and therefore we are called to give Him our adoration and praise. We are also being called to be transformed – to become like Christ. The Father tells us “Listen to Him” (Mark 9: ) and in this command, I think He challenges us not only to understand what Jesus is saying, but also to live His ways in our lives. The Father calls us to be disciples of Christ. Often times when I pray to become more like Christ, I ask that I may have the eyes to see as Jesus sees the world and the heart to love as He does. These are very challenging requests, since the few times that I think that I am beginning to see things from His vantage, I become overwhelmed with how much suffering, pain, and sadness is in the world around me, and I wonder how I am called to love like He would love. Fortunately, He offers us His Spirit to give us the grace, the courage, the hope and the love to deal with the challenges that we face. Like the disciples we need to gaze on Jesus in his glory, and follow Him. He will lead us, so we too can become a reflection of God’s glory for the world. For it is written, “All of us gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Sprit.” (2 Cor 3:18)
Heavenly Father, You sent your beloved Son, Jesus, to bring His Kingdom here to us. You share with Him your glory and power. Give us your Spirit so we will have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to love as Jesus does. By keeping our faces turned to Him, may we grow in His likeness and become reflections of your glory for the world around us; we pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN
- Marylynn Herchline