(From) Sunday reflections: Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)
Matthew 17:1-9
"This is my beloved Son in whom my favor rests. Listen to him."
In Matthew's gospel, we see Peter, James and John witnessing the Lord's transfiguration. This illuminating event revealed the divinity of Christ, with the evangelist describing the mystery "as dazzling as the sun" and "as radiant as light". St. Leo (ca. 400-461 A.D.), the 45th pope from St. Peter the Apostle, comments on this passage from the gospel in one of his sermons. He says that the reason for this divine manifestation, is to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of the apostles, so that when the Lord dies on the cross, they would not be disturbed entirely by his death.
Some scholars of the Bible would comment that the Transfiguration event in the life of Christ was a glimpse of his resurrection, and a foretaste of the resurrection of the body and life eternal. But deep within these two mysteries is the gift and mystery of the Cross - a reality Jesus had to take up in obedience to his Father's will, and which the apostles were challenged to accept painfully with faith. Bible commentators believe that since the scandal of the cross may shake the faith and confidence of the apostles, the Lord revealed his divinity before the event of his passion and death. But it was to James and John, and to Peter that the Lord granted the vision. And Peter was entasked to encourage his brothers after the tragic event of Jesus' death (Luke 22:31-32).
The difficulties and tragedies of the times can weaken the natural faith we have in the goodness of the world and others - difficulties like calamities that can make living conditions humanly impossible to deal with. This is what happened to the apostles and the many disciples of Jesus. Though the three in Christ's inner circle (Peter, James and John) had a vision of the Lord in glory, they forgot about it when the death of the Lord actually loomed before their eyes. The vision they had witnessed with the Father saying: "This is my Beloved Son. Listen to him", was meant to strengthen them. It is also meant for us. The Christian vision of the resurrection of the body and life eternal (which the Transfiguration is said to prefigure), is meant to encourage us, and give us hope, so that in times of severe stress, trials, and crisis, our remembrance of Christ will help us stand in the midst of adversity.
Scripture quote:
Let us bear our share of the hardship which the gospel entails (2 Timonty 1)
The Lord came toward them and layed his hand on them and said, "Get up! Do not be afraid" (Matthew 17)
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