Transfiguration of the Lord

Jesus Christ took three of his disciples to a very high mountain. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Jesus was transfigured. Moses and Elijah appeared to him in astonishing glory and were discussing with the King of glory. In the transfiguration, Jesus revealed an aspect of his glory, just a little aspect of his glory. The glory he had from all eternity, before the dawn of time. St John Damascene says “Christ was transfigured, not by acquiring what he was not but by manifesting to his disciples what he in fact was.” Jesus Christ is the King of glory. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, the Mighty, the Valiant, the Valiant in war, he is the King of glory (Ps 24: 8).  At his incarnation, Jesus concealed his glory under human flesh He became like us in all things but sin.


REASONS FOR  TRANSFIGURATION

Jesus decided to reveal his glory to his disciples for two major reasons . First, He wanted them to gain greater understanding of his person and divinity. He wanted to free them from any modicum of doubts concerning his divinity. Since the disciples would be his witnesses and spread his message; Jesus wanted his disciples to have a clear and certain knowledge of his Person and mission, so that they could proclaim him to the whole world with confidence and certainty. Later John would testify, “we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only (Jn 1:14). Peter wrote “we ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (Cf. 2 Pet 1:16-18).

Second, Jesus wanted to encourage his disciples.  He knew they would suffer tremendously for the spread of the Gospel. He wanted to provide a solid ground of hope for them. He wanted to direct their gaze to the glory that awaits them if they persevered to the end. Later the disciples would suffer many persecutions and afflictions, but they held fast to their faith and the teachings of the Gospel because they have seen the weight of glory that awaits them. For the disciples, “the journey up Mt. Tabor, the Mount of transfiguration, with Jesus is a foretaste of the glory to come on the other side of Calvary, a great preparation for Calvary, a great hope”


DESTINED FOR GLORY

God has destined us to become sharers of eternal glory. We too will be transfigured and we will assume the glorified body. Our Lord Jesus Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body (Cf. Phil 3:21).  So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure (2Cor 4:16-17).

But before our transfiguration, we need to listen to what the King of glory commands.  At the transfiguration, a voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is my Son; listen to him!” We need to listen attentively to Jesus, allow his Word to abide in us, and bear abundant fruits. The eternal weight of glory is destined for the doers of the Word and not for forgetful listeners. Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves (Jam 1:22).

Trials and tribulations also precede the reception of weight of glory. Our faith will be tested, temptations will abound, and persecutions may come in different forms. But only those who persevere to the end will receive the eternal weight of glory. In the dark and dreary moments of life, the glory that awaits us in heaven can motivate us to continue to run the race.  The suffering is short but the glory is eternal.  The sufferings of this present life are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us (Rom 8:18). After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory  in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you (1Pet 5:10).