The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Today’s gospel is about the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ in Mt. Tabor. Surely this event left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of the apostles Peter, James and John that their Master was not just an ordinary man who was good with words, but performed miracles right before their eyes because he was the Son of Man. You can read this passage in your Bibles in Matt.17: 1-9.

 “1 Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid.

 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” 8 And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

 I have read a few stories on near-death experiences, where there seems to be some kind of commonality with the people who experienced death and came back to life … that as their souls left their bodies, they all saw a light as if from far away … and they were all lured to that light. Some people then return to their bodies, while other souls went farther and met our Lord Jesus Christ. But somehow, they are sent back to earth because of unfinished business that they had to do here to help our fellowmen.

 What these people saw is the glorified body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is precisely the very rare privilege that the apostles Peter, James and John where given in Mt. Tabor by our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely these three people were not asleep when they were granted the vision of the glorious body of the risen Christ. It was a vision so real to them that as they went down from the mountain, our Lord Jesus Christ had to tell them not to tell anyone what they saw until He is crucified and raised from the dead.

 The appearance of Moses and Elijah in Mt. Tabor must have been gratifying to the apostles as they saw proof that indeed, there is an afterlife … that it is only our bodies that died, while our spirit and our souls live on. We know well enough that there are only two places where we are all headed… to Heaven or Hell! Sure, we Catholics also believe that there is a place for purging those who are not yet clean enough to be allowed in heaven and that’s called Purgatory. But if you’re in purgatory, at least you still have a chance to land in heaven. But land in Hell and you’re stuck there for eternity.

 Now you might ask, what made our Lord Jesus Christ decide to show his glory to three of his most trusted apostles? Well, let’s backtrack a little bit and read the previous verses prior to the Transfiguration. It is in Matt.16: 26-28. When our Lord Jesus said to his apostles “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. 28 Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 As if the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus or the appearance of Moses and Elijah wasn’t enough for the apostles; as Peter was speaking, suddenly a bright cloud cast a shadow upon them then they heard the voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” This was literally a jackpot for these Apostles who heard the voice of God the Father, who provided proof that their Master Jesus Christ was indeed his Son. What more could they have asked for?

 Yet despite all of these things happening to them, when our Lord Jesus Christ was arrested and scourged and sent before the Sanhedrin, Peter denied him as prophesied by the Lord himself. That’s because they are just like us … mere mortals. Armed with the scriptures, we have knowledge that there is an afterlife and we shall see God in all his glory together with our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. All we need is to trust in God.

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