6 August 2011: The Transfiguration of Our Lord

The Transfiguration foretells the Lord’s glory as God, and His ascension into heaven; an anticipation of the glory in heaven where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the divine promise of eternal life. This feast was introduced to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1595)

Mystery and motives of the Transfiguration
“Jesus takes with him Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain. There his appearance changed before them. Even his clothes became white as snow. Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good we are here; let us set up three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’.
“Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came from the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him’. And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. Jesus came and touched them, and said to them, ‘Arise and fear not’. Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, but only Jesus.” (cf Mk 9:2-8)
Every detail of this great event is recorded. We might imagine we had seen a picture. Let us contemplate this picture, considering one by one the ‘persons’, their ‘words’, and their ‘actions’. Beautiful thoughts and most practical lessons are contained in this contemplation.
Eight days had passed since Jesus foretold his Passion and death to his Apostles. He had openly declared that they also must be ready to forsake all things, even life itself, for his sake and the Gospel.
Their Master’s words had saddened them and awakened doubts that might weaken their faith. To cure this our Lord chose to give them a striking proof of his divinity, a foretaste of the happiness prepared for them in heaven. Such was the main reason for the Transfiguration.
This is how God is accustomed to act towards us. If he allows, sad memories and alarming prospects throw us into desolation, doubt, or dejection. He puts an end to it by sending a ray of celestial glory before our eyes, which immediately vanishes the darkness and our anguish, expands our hearts, and fills them with sweetest confidence and joy.
When Peter, so greatly delighted at the sight of the glorified humanity of Jesus, cried out, “Lord, it is good for us to be here: let us make three tents”, St Mark tells us “he knew not what he said” (Mk 9:5). He did not understand our Lord’s aim in manifesting his glory. Later, he understood. (2 Pet 1:16-8)
Let us enter into the wishes of Jesus, and gather thoughts of courage from his glorious Transfiguration. Let us say, ‘If a momentary glimpse of the glorified humanity of Jesus Christ can transport an Apostle with joy and happiness, what will it be to contemplate him eternally in heaven!’
And in striving after this happiness, which is promised to us, we will cry out with St Paul, ‘The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us’.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp563-5

The Transfiguration of the Lord
At the center of the event are the divine words, which endow it with its true significance -- “This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests. Listen to him.” (Mt 17:5)
We thus understand this as a christophany: the revelation of the Son of God, about whom the account brings several things to light -- his glory, by reason of the splendor acquired; his centrality, almost the summary of the history of salvation, signified by the presence of Moses and Elijah; his prophetic authority, legitimately stated by means of the peremptory invitation, ‘Listen to him’; and, above all, the qualification of ‘Son’, which emphasizes the close and unique relations between Jesus and the heavenly Father.
The words of the transfiguration repeat those in the baptism in the Jordan, as if it were to signify that, also after having covered an exact portion of the way of his public life, Jesus remained the same ‘beloved Son’ which he has proclaimed at the beginning.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p282-3

The Lord strengthens the disciples before his Passion and Death
Jesus told his disciples of his forthcoming Passion and of the suffering he will receive from the Jews and Gentiles. He exhorted them to follow him on the way of the Cross and sacrifice. (cf Mt 16:24 et seq) A few days later, he shows them how to strengthen their faith.
St Thomas teaches that for one to advance directly along a particular path, it is important to know the destination beforehand, “just as the archer does not accurately launch an arrow without first looking at the target. This is necessary, above all, when the road is rough and hazardous, and the path laborious. It is fitting, therefore, for Christ to reveal to his disciples the splendor of his glory, to become transfigured before them, since in the same glory he would one day transfigure his own.” (“Summa Theologiae”, 2, 145, a1)
Our life is a roadway to heaven that passes by way of the cross and through sacrifice. Until our final moments, we shall have to swim against the current. The tendency to make our dedication compatible with an easy and perhaps lukewarm existence, like that of so many whose minds are set exclusively on material well-being, may affect us, too.
Let us ask Our Lady to help us learn to offer with serenity the fatigue and tiredness that each day brings with it, with our thoughts fixed on Christ, who accompanies us in this life and waits for us, glorified at the end of the way. “When that hour arrives and these mortal eyes close, grant us, Lord, a grander vision so that we may behold your awesome face. May death lead us to a more splendid birth” (cf J Maragall, “Spiritual Canticle”, Madrid, 1985), the beginning of everlasting life.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 7:71-2

• In the year 963, the church of Our Lady of Chartres was entirely burnt, except the tunic of the Blessed Virgin, which is seen there to this day. — Sebastien Rouillard. Parthen., c. vii. “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• The Church of Our Lady of Chartres burnt but not Her tunic which was miraculously unharmed. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html). See also July 13, Aug. 17, Oct. 17, Dec. 22, Dec. 31. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Copacabana (Bolivia). (http://mariedenazareth.com); (www.marypages.com/LadyCopacabana.htm)
• “Nuestra Señora” of Copacabana. (http://mariedenazareth.com); (www.marypages.com/LadyCopacabana.htm)