Liturgical day: August 6th: Transfiguration of Our Lord (B)
Gospel text (Mc 9,2-10): Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain. There his appearance was changed before their eyes. Even his clothes shone, becoming as white as no bleach of this world could make them. Elijah and Moses appeared to them; the two were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, «Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah». For he did not know what to say; they were overcome with awe.
But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, «This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him». And suddenly, as they looked around, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus with them. As they came down the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man be risen from the dead.
«Master, it is good that we are here»
Fr. Ignasi NAVARRI i Benet
(La Seu d'Urgell, Lleida, Spain)
Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Mount Tabor, like Mount Sinai, is the place of the proximity to God. It is the prominent space, regarding our daily existence, where we can breathe the pure air of the Creation. It is the place of prayer where we are in the company of the Lord, like Moses and Elijah, who appear with Jesus Transfigured, talking with Him about the Exodus He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem (i.e. his Passover)
«His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them» (Mk 9.3).This fact symbolizes the purification of the Church. And Peter said to Jesus: "Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah" (Mk 9:5)" St. Augustine beautifully mentions that Peter thought of the three shelters because he did not yet know the accord between the Law, the Prophecy and the Gospel.
«Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him' "(Mk 9.7). The Transfiguration is not a change in Jesus, but the Revelation of His Divinity. Peter, James and John, while contemplating the Divinity of the Lord do, prepare themselves to confront the scandal of the Cross. The Transfiguration is a foretaste of the Resurrection!
"Rabbi, it is good for us to be here" (Mk 9:5). The Transfiguration reminds us that the joys God sows in our life are not points of arrival, but lights He gives us in our earthly pilgrimage so that "only Jesus" may be our Law, and His Word the criterion, joy and blessing of our existence.
May the Virgin Mary help us to live intensely our moments of encounter with the Lord so that we may joyfully follow Him every day, and may she help us to listen and always follow the Lord Jesus, till the Passion and the Cross, with a view to also share His Glory.