In Evangelii Gaudium (2013) Pope Frances says, “The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice” (5). The story of the transfiguration that we hear in today’s gospel, Mark 9:2-10, focuses our attention on that radiance the Holy Father speaks to us about. Peter, James and John accompany Jesus to a mountain where, “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.” While all this activity is going on, a cloud casts a shadow over them and from this cloud the voice of God says, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” No one knows exactly what Moses, Elijah and Jesus talked about. Although in Luke’s version of the transfiguration we are told, “And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem” (Luke 9: 30-31).
None of the disciples understood what was happening. Jesus added to their confusion when he told them not to speak about what they saw until “the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” They descended from the mountain bewildered and wondering “what rising from the dead meant.” This was not a moment of rejoicing for Peter, James or John. In fact, Mark tells us they were terrified.
With almost two thousand years of hindsight, it could be easy for us to gloss over the transfiguration as some sort of Godly special effect. Some of us might forget that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified when the event happened. We believe that his experience of transfiguration was God the Father’s affirmation of the path he had chosen. For Peter, James and John the mystery of the transfiguration became clear only after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The experience provided them with glimmers of hope in their darkest days. And then they could rejoice.
And this is what the transfiguration can be for us. We can rejoice in our moments of doubt and fear, sadness and despair because we know the end of the story. We know that glory follows the passion. We know that Jesus endured the passion out of love for us. And we trust the words of Jesus, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). St Paul gives us another assurance when he tells us that by removing the veil of unbelief and skepticism, “all of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Co 3:18).
Loving Father,
for a fleeting moment
you glorified your Son on the mountain
to encourage him to carry out his mission
and to strengthen his disciples.
Let the presence of your Son in this Eucharist
and the words he speaks to us
transform us and give us light and strength
to take up our task in life
and to lighten the burden
of our brothers and sisters,
until you transform us with him.
Amen
