The Transfiguration of the Lord
There are three important elements in the Transfiguration of Jesus that is pertinent to the season of Lent. First, the conversation that Jesus had with Moses and Elijah. Second, the change in appearance of Jesus, and third, the voice from the cloud that came over them.
According to St. Luke in today’s Gospel, Moses and Elijah conversed with Jesus about the exodus which he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. The Exodus in the Old Testament was the event when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and they wandered in the desert for forty years before finally reaching the Promised Land. In the Transfiguration in the New Testament, the exodus which Jesus was going to accomplish in Jerusalem was His Passion, Death and Resurrection. And just as the Israelites were delivered from the bondage of slavery, it is by the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ that we would be delivered from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus Christ conquered sin by His suffering and death, and He conquered death by rising from the dead; we too can conquer sin and death in Jesus Christ. It is truly fitting that Moses and Elijah were the ones seen by the disciples speaking to Jesus, because Moses represents the Law, while Elijah represents the prophets. The Law and the prophets represent the two pillars of the Old Testament, which was later fulfilled in the New Testament, in the person of Jesus Christ.
The change in appearance of Jesus – His Transfiguration – is the prefiguration, or the prototype, of the Resurrection. St. Luke tells us that the appearance of Jesus became dazzling white. Here, Jesus shows us one of the qualities of his resurrected body – clarity – free from deformity and filled with beauty and radiance. However, the Transfiguration of Jesus was in anticipation not only of his glorification, but also of ours. St. Matthew tells us that the righteous shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mt 13:43), while St. Paul tells us that Christ will change our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body (Phil 3:21). The Transfiguration foreshadows the transformation in glory to which we are called by our sharing in the Paschal Mystery – which is the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. By his Transfiguration, Jesus wanted His disciples to realize that His death on the Cross will not be the end, but rather the means to His glorification.
After Peter, James and John had witnessed these amazing things, a cloud came over them and a voice said: “This is my chosen Son, listen to him!” Not only did the voice confirm that Jesus is the Son of God, it also commanded the disciples to ‘listen to him.’ Here, God is telling us that everything He wanted to say to mankind, He has already said through Christ. After all, the greatest revelation that God has given to us is His only Son, Jesus Christ. However, St. Paul tells us that we should listen not only through our ears, but more so make what we hear from Christ bear fruit through our actions. He said: “It is the same Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom 8:16-17).
Today’s Gospel encourages us to take part in the exodus of Christ, in order that we may be delivered from the bondage of sin and death. We share in the Passion of Christ by taking up our own crosses and bearing our sufferings. We share in the Death of Christ by dying to ourselves – placing God and the needs of others before our own, forgiving each other, and listening to and following the teachings of Christ by living good and holy lives. St. Paul assures us that those who conduct themselves in this way will also share in the glory and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our Spring Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, March 30, 2019 from 8am to 3pm. If you have any items to donate, you may start bringing them to the church. Our best selling items are clothes, housewares, small kitchen appliances, toys and small furniture. Please DO NOT bring any of the following items: used mattresses, large mirrors, used computers, monitors or accessories; non-digital TVs; old audio equipment and VCRs, printers.
On Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, there will be a facilitator Training-Retreat for the “LORD TEACH ME TO PRAY” Ignatian prayer series at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Lilburn. There is no charge for the retreat or materials. If you are interested to attend, please let Fr. Bill know so that members of our church can attend together as a group.
2019 Summer Camp during Labor Day weekend will be held at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Please contact Antonia Fu to register.