Mark 9,2-10.
In last Sunday’s gospel we saw the humanity of Jesus who was tempted by Satan in the desert. Today, in the story of the Transfiguration we see the divinity of Jesus shine through. The transfiguration occurs at the half- way stage of the Mark’s gospel and is also a central event in the life and ministry of Jesus.
The Transfiguration happens on a mountain, a place often associated with divine encounters in the Bible, e.g. Mt Sinai. The transfiguration happened six days after Peter’s confession that Jesus was truly “Christ the Son of the living God” and is a kind of divine ratification of that confession. Peter, James, and John who would later witness the dereliction of Jesus in Gethsemane accompany Jesus on the mountain. The hope is that seeing his divinity in the Transfiguration will help them to cope with the Gethsemane experience later.
The Transfiguration was a profound experience in which the three disciples see the divinity of Jesus shine forth in all its heavenly beauty, and suffuse his whole being in glory and light. Moses and Elijah were the great law-giver, and the great prophet of the Old Testament, and were expected to return to Israel before the end times. Their presence confirms that Jesus is the Messiah. Peter wants the experience to continue forever, hence his suggestion of building three tents. The cloud indicates the presence of God. The voice from heaven confirms that Jesus is God’s own beloved Son who is to be listened to. He is the revelation of God. The message is the same as that of the baptism of Jesus in which his divine sonship was confirmed. The adjective “beloved” refers to the Suffering Servant (in Isaiah 52,13-53,12) whose suffering would bring redemption to sinners. That will be Jesus’ mission in his passion death and resurrection. The Transfiguration finishes as abruptly as it began. The command not to tell anyone until Jesus is risen from the dead is another example of the Messianic Secret- keeping Jesus’ identity and wonders secret until after the resurrection. The Transfiguration gives a preview of what resurrection glory will be like.
During the Transfiguration experience the “disciples did not know what to say: they were so frightened”. It was more awe than fear. They would never be the same again. It prepared these same three disciples to cope with the shock and disbelief of Jesus’ agony in the Garden. God usually prepares people in advance of new insights, new directions, new changes. Has that been your experience? The Transfiguration prepared Jesus for what lay ahead of him in his Passion, death, and resurrection.
As Christians our calling is to be transformed/transfigured into Christ. Transformation takes place gradually through prayer, penance, fasting, the Eucharist and the Sacraments – all of which should feature prominently in our Lenten programme.
We are also called to be agents of the transformation of others by our example, encouragement, and love.
The temptations (last Sunday) and the Transfiguration (today) taken together show Jesus’ humanity and divinity; both essential attributes for us to keep in harmony in our relationship with him.
The Transfiguration is one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary added to the Rosary by St John Paul 11. Try saying the Luminous Mysteries today – a fitting way to celebrate the Transfiguration.
Fr Geoff O’Grady