October 14, 2019

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus. “Transfiguration” literally means “changing the figure of”. The Transfiguration of Jesus, therefore, means that Jesus changed his figure.  We are told in the gospel passage that his face was shining and his clothes became white. These images show God’s presence.

 

In the first reading, Prophet Daniel describes his vision.  According to him, he saw four wild beasts, namely, a lion, a bear, a leopard and a fearsome and terrible beast. The beasts represent  the bloody, wicked and despotic regimes which have, at different eras, reigned in the world.  These regimes have oppressed Israel, the People of God.  The lion is Babylon—that cruel City, whose army destroyed Jerusalem and its temple in 70AD. The bear and leopard refer to the ruling peoples of the world at that time.

 

A pertinent question is then asked: Shall the world continue to be ruled by wicked and arrogant people?  No!  The author of the Book of Daniel says that someone, a Saviour, will deliver people from the clutches of the Evil One. This prophecy of Daniel was fulfilled in Jesus. All the Kingdoms before him were violent; but Jesus has come to set up a new kingdom—a gentle kingdom, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. Evil forces would not last forever.  Jesus must surely conquer and put an end to satanic powers.  He himself has told his disciples that: “In the world, you will have troubles, but do not be afraid, because I have conquered the world (see John 16:33).  Because Jesus has conquered, we too shall be conquerors in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

 

 

Song:  Alleluia, Jesus conquered the world; alleluia, Satan you are in trouble.

            The Lord reigneth in my life today! (to be repeated severally).

 

            The second reading tells us that some Christians were proclaiming the second coming of the Lord.  These Christians were discouraged because nothing seemed to be changing—everything remained as it had been (see 2 Pet 3:4). Consequently, the Israelites began to ask questions about Christ’s coming, saying, “Will he come or not?” St. Peter then recalls in this reading how the disciples who had known the Lord were “witnesses” of Jesus’ Transfiguration on the mountain. Their message was that, “Jesus is the Beloved Son, with whom God the Father is well pleased.”  He has not come to destroy, but to save us all.

 

In today’s gospel pericope, St. Matthew describes the scene of the Transfiguration, with several images. These must be explained, so that the profound meaning of this Spiritual Event could be understood.

 

 

The Mountain:

Whenever Jesus has something very serious say or do, St. Matthew particularly stresses that Jesus would climb a mountain. Let us take a look at few examples: Jesus’ Last temptation took place on a mountain (Mt. 4:8); the beatitudes are proclaimed from a mountain (Mt. 5:1); the multiplication of bread occurs on a mountain (Mt. 15:29); and, at the end of St. Matthew’s gospel, we are told that, when the disciples meet the Risen Lord and are sent into the world, they are “on the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them” (Mt. 28:16). The repeated emphasis on the mountain does not mean that such people (that is, Jesus and his disciples, and even Moses) go there to enjoy themselves!

 

Catholic tradition holds that the Transfiguration of Jesus took place on Mount Tabor; Mount Tabor is a beautiful mountain with different kinds of trees like pine, oak and terebinth.  History tells us in those days that there was a pagan altar erected on the summit of the mountain for pagan sacrifice. Thus, it is now a quiet place, certainly suitable for reflection and prayer.

 

Today’s gospel text does not mention “Tabor”, it simply says that it was “a high mountain”.  This is a biblical expression.  In Scriptures, all the great encounters and meetings with God and God’s manifestations take place on a mountain.  For instance, Moses and Elijah, mentioned in today’s gospel, received their revelation of the Lord on a mountain (see Ex. 24:15ff and 1 Kgs 19:8), respectively. Thus, the “mountain” is not always a real place; rather, it is sometimes used to signify “a period of intimate closeness to God.” Jesus takes some of his disciples on to the mountain.  In other words, he reveals to them the most secret thoughts of his Father concerning the Messiah.

 

 

The Three Disciples:

             Reading through Exodus 24, we discover that Moses too climbed the mountain “on the seventh day” (ex. 24:16), that is, “after six days”, and that he did not go alone, but took with him some important personalities like Aaron, Nadab and Abihu.  It was the belief in those days that the place where God manifested himself was not accessible to just anybody, because a special holiness and lifestyle was demanded of those approaching it. Like Jesus, Moses was covered with a cloud and his face changed—it was shining with light (Ex. 34:30). With Jesus’ Transfiguration today, Matthew is telling us that Jesus is the New Moses who allows his people, represented by the three disciples, a revelation from God. The three disciples who follow Jesus on the mountain are the same three who will witness his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt. 26:37).

 

In those days, whenever the Rabbis (that is, Jewish  teachers) wanted to reveal something very important to their disciples, they would go to a lonely place to pass on such teachings. The fact that Jesus behaves in the same mysterious way and finally asks his disciples not to immediately tell people what they have seen shows that such experience is very important.

 

 

Jesus’ Face and His Clothes:

            St. Matthew tells us that “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light”—these are signs of God’s presence. These images are found in today’s first reading also (Dn. 7:9). The “bright cloud” also means the same.  In fact, Exodus 13:21 tells of a bright cloud that protects the Israelites in the desert. When Moses receives the Law, the Ten Commandments of God, we are told that the mountain is covered by a cloud (Ex. 24:16-18). The cloud signifies God’s presence.

 

Moses and Elijah:

            These are two familiar prophets in the Old Testament.  When Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs. 2:11-12), there was this belief that he was to return to the world one day to present the Messiah to the Israelites.  In today’s description of the Transfiguration, he is shown as pointing out Jesus as the expected Messiah.  Before he died, Moses had told the Israelites that “A prophet like me will the Lord your God raise up for you from among your kinsmen; to him you shall listen” (Deut. 18:15).  Thus, his presence in today’s scene of the Transfiguration confirms that Jesus is the prophet he had announced.  Indeed, the invitation to listen to him, found at the end of God’s statement (v. 5) confirms this.

 

 

The Three Tents:

            One interpretation says that “the three tents” might mean Peter’s wish to perpetuate the happiness he was experiencing at that moment of intense prayer with his Master. Sometimes, we ourselves might have had  a similar experience, particularly after a long encounter with the Lord.  This happens during Retreat, Visitation to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, Charismatic encounter with the Lord in the “Desert” and other similar spiritual events. At such moments, the truth is that we cannot continue to stay with the Lord, but that we must come back to resume our daily routine of assignments; we must carry out our responsibilities; we must continue to render selfless services to our brethren in the world; we must extend our helping hands to those in pain, to those in need of our assistance, etc.

 

The Voice:

            “The Voice” signifies God’s interpretation of the event that had taken place.  Jesus refers to Jesus as “…my beloved Son,” the faithful servant with whom he is well pleased. Whoever wants to please God must follow the examples of Christ. The voice from heaven says, “listen to him,” that is, follow his examples, follow his path of suffering, do whatever he does, even though his proposals are difficult and sometimes humanly absurd. We must follow him all the same.

 

 

Jesus is Alone:

             At the end of the scene, Jesus is found to be alone.  Moses and Elijah are gone. Their departure means that the Old Testament has fulfilled its purpose—that of bringing Jesus to us.  The word of Jesus is now enough for us. Without Jesus, the Old Testament, indeed the entire scripture, would be meaningless.

 

 

Meaning of the Transfiguration Scene–A Synthesis:

            This is the meaning of the entire scene of the Transfiguration: it is that the Old Testament (represented by Moses and Elijah) speaks with Jesus, tends toward and receives meaning from Jesus.  Jesus is the explanation and fulfillment of all the law and of all the prophets (see Lk. 24:44).  Unfortunately, Peter does not understand this  spiritual meaning of the Transfiguration. He sees Jesus as a great person, a man at the level of Moses and Elijah. That is why he suggests that three tents be built. However, the three persons for whom the tents are to be built can no longer go together—Moses and Elijah have disappeared.

 

At this juncture, God intervenes to correct Peter’s false interpretation: Jesus is not simply a great man, but the “Beloved Son of the Father”.  Thus, the disciples must listen to him alone. That is why the disciples see only Jesus when they raise their eyes. Moses and Elijah have gone, because their mission is over: they have presented the Messiah, the new Prophet, to the world.  Without Jesus, the Old Testament has no meaning, but without the Old Testament, Jesus would remain a mystery.

 

We also had listened to different voices, different people, before we discovered Jesus; some led us towards the good, others towards evil and selfishness. The People of Israel had been enlightened by the Law and the Prophets; we are the New People of Israel, who have eventually found Christ. Jesus is now the only light of our lives; we must put off all other lights that are contrary to the gospel of Jesus. The Scene of the Transfiguration is Holy.  Let us emulate the transfigured Christ by living holy lives.  May the good Lord assist us with his enabling grace to carry out his will always  in our lives, we ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

BY REV. FR. MARK AJIGA