The Transfiguration of Jesus

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. – Mark 9:2-9

This afternoon I plan to attend Eucharistic Adoration at my parish church. I am a Catholic, and Catholics believe that the Eucharist is changed during the Mass from a mere bread wafer to the actual Body of the Lord Jesus. For Eucharistic Adoration, a consecrated Host is placed in a protective outer vessel; the vessel is then placed, most times on an altar, for a period of time for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. In my parish and in many parishes, devoted persons are welcome to come before the Sacrament and worship, meditate and spend time with the Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time for me to sit quietly and to reflect, and to worship and to give thanks to the Lord Jesus. It may be that people who are not Catholic view this time Catholics spend as naïve, or foolish, or wasteful. For me though, I can honestly testify that I feel that Adoration is an affirmation of my Catholic faith, and as I sit before the Sacrament, I have felt this time spent quietly there has helped my relationship with God to grow, and is nourishing and vital to me.

Today’s gospel verse is found in Mark 9:2-9. It tells of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He changes before the eyes of three of His closest disciples from the Jesus of the world they know into the Jesus who exists beyond this earth. His clothes appear as dazzling. In my Greek translation Jesus’ clothes are like the snow, brighter than any white that man can create. I think it would fair to say that the disciples must have been blinded by the white light from Heaven before them.

Then Elijah and Moses appear to the disciples and these two great men of the Jewish faith are in conversation with Jesus. Peter and the others are so afraid.

At that moment a cloud comes in the sky and overshadows them, and out of the cloud comes a voice, and Peter, James and John are told that “This is my beloved Son.” and the disciples of Jesus are told further to “Listen to him.” And when the disciples look around after the voice speaks, they see only Jesus.

Today, I think about the Transfiguration of Jesus, which also appears in two of the other gospels. There are so many thoughts I have as I read the narrative.

I think about the careful groundwork that Jesus laid out for these disciples to prepare and strengthen their faith for what lay ahead for Jesus and for them. I think about the fear the disciples have as they witness the awesome power of God. I think about how God reaches them through their Jewish faith, impressing and leaving them awestruck with the appearance of Elijah and Moses. And how just as suddenly as the great Jewish leaders appear, they disappear and only Jesus is left, and God leaves no doubt. Jesus is far greater than any human being who ever was. Jesus is God himself, but Jesus is also God’s Son who He loves.  I think about the love Jesus had for His Father and for His disciples, and I also think about the love the disciples had for Jesus.

Today and hopefully all tomorrows I will think about the Transfiguration of Jesus. I will listen to Him and try to learn from His teachings. I will look at The Blessed Sacrament and I will remember that Jesus was transfigured long ago before the eyes of His disciples. He is God’s Son but He also belongs to us, earthly and imperfect beings that we are, and He is always present here with us.

How awesome.

Prayer for today:

Dear God,

How awesome You are.

You told us that Jesus is Your beloved Son.

Jesus is God and Jesus is man. He is Yours, and through Your Generosity and Love, He is ours.

Thank You for giving Jesus to us. Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so much and never leaving us.

In Jesus Precious Name I pray,

Amen