“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.” Matthew 18:1-8
As I read this story this morning, I ask the Father to help me see this in light of my life today. There is a lot to unwrap.
Knowing what they are about to witness, Jesus takes His closest friends and apostles up the mountain. As they arrive, Jesus shows a glimpse of what I believe is a lot of His private prayer time on earth. His full Divinity on display (at least to the point that it can be handled on earth). The apostles are wow’d and want to set up a tent and stay there. But, in the midst of their planning, the Father steps into time with those famous words, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” The power of God’s nature and awe overwhelms Peter, James and John, they fall prostrate overawed by the Father’s presence.
Can you imagine that moment? Moses and Elijah right in front of them. While Jesus stands before them “his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” And, the full presence of God the Father overwhelming all of that in His words.
This is when God shows me how this applies today in my life.
“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”
We are invited to the moment of the Transfiguration each time we enter the Catholic Church for Mass. Jesus invites us, His most beloved disciples to join Him at this pinnacle moment in time and history. We come to this mountain experience and the prophets of the Old Testament come – spoken in the Liturgy of the Word – Moses, Elijah, David, Abraham and more step forward to allow us to see and hear what they have to say.
Then, Jesus steps forward in all His brilliance, clothed in white, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Eucharist is raised before our eyes. And, what do we hear? The voice of the Father saying “This is my Son, the Beloved.” Do we fall in awe? Are we overcome by this revelation?
We are invited to witness the power of the Transfiguration, we are meant to be transfigured by this Divine encounter. The Eucharist should change us – drastically and dramatically. “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” What dies Jesus tell us? The three apostles were told to wait but we are beyond that delay. Jesus tells us at the end of Mass and in His documented words to go out to all the world and share what we have witnessed. To tell everyone we meet of the incredible joy we have found in Jesus. To invite everyone to be baptized and come to see Jesus in this ‘Transfiguration’ at Mass. To teach and lead every single soul we meet to the Eucharist. For it is only in the Eucharist that we are truly transfigured and find eternal life.
Now….Go!!!
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” John 6:53-55
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20