Gospel of Luke, Chapter 9:29

Have you ever experienced an AH, AH, moment; a moment when you were struck with a powerful emotion or insight about something meaningful in your life? Today’s story of the transfiguration in the gospel of Luke, Chapter nine, was an AH, AH, moment for three of Jesus’ disciples. They experience a Jesus in a way they had never seen Him before. The two personages who appeared with Jesus; Moses and Elijah, represent the whole of Israel’s law and prophetic tradition. The mountain is also important for it is reminiscent of Sinai, where the first covenant (The Ten Commandments) was established.

In the Old Testament, we learn from Father Abraham who sets out, not knowing where his faith would lead him. We ought to be moved by old, lovable Abraham’s faith which carried him through days and nights of temptation guided by the dim, flickering light of faith; and sometimes by stunning brilliant insight. In today’s gospel, Jesus shows us where faith leads. Faith leads to transfiguration into the new life of Christ; a life that is brilliant and begins here.

Like St. Peter, in today’s transfiguration story, we might wish to cherish the splendid vision of glory atop a mountain away from the maddening crowds and apart from life’s hustle and bustle, but the bright vision of faith must be lived in the context of every day life. But, St. Peter learned to accept the hardship that the Gospel entails for it is by living the faith in the circumstances of normal day-to-day existence that salvation is brought into “clear light”.

The three apostles-Peter, James and John were more than content to rest in the glory of Christ’s transfiguration atop Mount Tabor where they felt sheltered from the daily problems of life. But that was not to be. The glory of the transfiguration was meant to inspire the apostles, not to withdraw them from active involvement in the world. They have to come down to earth, so to speak, and fortified by the vision of Christ’s glory on Mount Tabor, face the challenges of life with renewed vigor.

The reality of the risen Lord, revealed in the transfiguration, is to be received and remembered but, above all, as followers of Christ we should pause during the second week of Lent to see what corners of our hearts still need to be transfigured with the light of Christ.

Fr. Hugh Duffy