Scripture Reflection – Transfiguration of the Lord (5-6th of August)

Our Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus is one of those celebrations that interrupts the normal Sunday pattern of Readings. Our feast comes at the end of Jesus public ministry. It is referenced by his Baptism by John in the Jordan. Both events involve a divine proclamation. At Jesus’ Baptism “…and suddenly the heaven opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending on him like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from the heaven, ‘This is my Son, the beloved: my favour rests on him.’” (Mat 16-17). At the Transfiguration we have a similar divine proclamation. “This is my Son; the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” (Matt 17: )

The Transfiguration comes at the end of Jesus’ public ministry and leads us into his passion ministry. Jesus is Transfigured before Peter James and John. Here he reveals his divine relationship with the Father to his disciples. His “face shone like the sun;” and his cloths became “white like as the light.” Peter responded by acknowledging “it is wonderful for us to be here.” And then the cloud came and overshadowed them, an ancient sign indicating the presence of God, and the voice, “This is my Son; the Beloved, he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.”

Jesus reveals to Peter, James and John both his divinity and his post resurrection semblance.

For us, the search is how we understand his mystery in our day-to-day lives. Perhaps we can look at some indicators: family, health, contentment, success in an endeavour, congratulations etc. All of these and more lift our hearts, give us a sense of wellbeing or purpose. They enable us to transfigure the present status quo to be more the person that God has created us to be and become. Moments that are touched by the divine within us.