Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 

The following sermon relates to the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew Ch.17 v. 1-9), which this year was celebrated on the 6^th August.

 

 'The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ'

                                    -  Giovanni Bellini c1490.

 “Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ

on Mount Tabor, which is near the town of Nazareth, between the

Mediterranean Sea and the Lake of Gennesaret.

 It is interesting to see that Our Lord transfigured on a mountain

and in a solitary place, and in the presence of His three Apostles.

 In a spiritual way, we can understand from this that divine favours

are especially for those who, by their virtues, raise themselves above

all earthly things; who retire into solitude, and flee from the distractions and 

from the cares of the world.

Now St. Peter represents those who are steadfast in their faith;

St. James those who control their passions;

and St. John the chaste and pure.

So one could imagine that Jesus selected these three apostles to enjoy so great a privilege in order that we might hope to receive His special favours if we are firm in our faith like St. Peter; if we overcome our passions like St. James; and if we are pure in mind and body like St. John.

Jesus showed Himself in His glory which was of course normal for Him, but which during the rest of His Life, was hidden by His Humanity; and in this way He proved His Divinity.

He did so to strengthen these Apostles and to sustain their faith when they would later  see Him in humiliation and in suffering.

Also, He wanted by His Transfiguration, to encourage them and all future Christians, to suffer voluntarily the trials of the apostleship and of observing the law, by letting them see a glimpse of that consolation which they would enjoy in the vision of God in Heaven.

But why did He cause ‘Moses and Elias’ to appear?

Moses was the promulgator of the Law which God gave him on Mount Sinai; and Elias was considered by all as the Prince of the Prophets.

The Mosaic law prepared the way for the promised Messiah, and all the sacrifices prescribed by the Old Law were only figures of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

All the predictions of the prophets pointed to Jesus Christ, and so we see why Our Lord caused Moses and Elias, and not others, to appear.

Then we see that St. Peter was so affected by the magnificence of the vision, and the joy of soul, that he desired nothing more, and thought it good to remain there forever.

And that was the effect of only a single ray of the glory of Christ on earth!

If that already could cause such profound emotions in St. Peter, what will our joy be when at the resurrection we shall arise immortal and see God in the fulness of His Majesty, sitting at the right hand of His Father amid the splendour of the saints?

The bright cloud during the Transfiguration, manifested the most Blessed Trinity, just as in the Baptism of Christ.

The Eternal Father spoke there; the Divine Word was present in the person of Christ; and the Holy Ghost appeared in the semblance of a ‘bright cloud’, as He appeared in the form of a ‘dove’ at the baptism of Christ.

While Jesus was transfigured, a voice came from a bright cloud which was the voice of the Eternal Father; for He alone could say, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him.”

 St. Leo the Great  says that by these words, the Eternal Father wished to proclaim to the whole world:-

          ‘This is My beloved Son,

                   not adopted, but My own,

                   not created, but generated;

          this is My Son, by Whom all things were made,

          in Him, I am well pleased.

                   Whose words, bear witness of Me,

                   Whose humility, glorifies Me.

                   Hear ye Him, because He is the Truth, and the Way.

                   He is my wisdom, He, Who was foretold by the prophets,

                   And Who redeemed the world by His blood.

          He opens the way to heaven

                   And by His Cross gives us the means

                   To enter the kingdom of heaven.’

 

          One can wonder why Our Redeemer forbade the apostles

          to speak of what they had seen until after His resurrection?

    St Jerome says that this event was ‘so great and wonderful

          That nobody would have believed it, and one

                   Would have been scandalised at seeing

                   Our Lord so utterly humiliated in the time

                   of His Passion after having manifested such

                             great power and glory'.

 

The proper time then to publish such a wonderful event

was after the Resurrection, for then those who saw Him

raised from the dead could have no difficulty in

acknowledging Him to be the true God, and able to

          transfigure Himself as He did, on Mount Tabor.

 Then, to witness that glorious vision was a special privilege

          granted to the three apostles alone, and Our Lord

          forbade them to speak of it, probably that they might

          learn to hide from others the special favours they had

                   received, in order not to expose themselves

                   to vainglory, and perhaps to the envy of others.

 From this we can learn not to noise abroad the

special graces we receive, to avoid that we become vain.

 When God grants us favours let us be thankful for them,

          And correspond with them as well as we can,

                   so that we save our soul

                             and the souls of others. Amen.

                                (Ack. Anonymous).