Readings: Daniel 7:9-10,13-14; Psalm 97; Mark 9:2-10; Mt 17:1-9; Lk 9:28-36 Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. On this Feast of the Transfiguration, we celebrate that “Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what His Body contains and radiates in the Sacraments: ‘the hope of glory’ (CCC 568). The vision in Daniel of the Son of Man receiving dominion and Kingship prefigures the Transfiguration: a moment when Christ is revealed as God’s Word fulfilled and whose glorious appearance gives us hope for our own resurrection into eternal life. The Transfiguration story is recorded in all three synoptic Gospels almost word for word. Jesus takes His three Apostles up a high mountain. He is transfigured – glorified – before their eyes. Moses and Elijah appear; Peter speaks; a cloud overshadows them and a voice from heaven: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to Him”. After this vision, Jesus is there alone with them. This was a very short interval, yet the three Apostles became aware of Jesus’ divinity. He is God. Just look at His Glory. It was terrific and they wanted to stay in that situation. Today Jesus also lives in our midst in very ordinary ways, ways in which we can only recognize Him as God through faith. In the Gospel we can recognize Him in His divinity speaking to us. But only if we have faith. In the Sacraments He works among us, but to see Him there we need faith.
Jesus lives among us in a very ordinary way in fellow human beings, in our Christlike attitudes towards one another. We feel His Presence in our lives. Truly we reveal Jesus to one another by the way we think, act and speak in our daily lives as we encounter each other. If we are kind, we let Jesus act through us, thus recognizing the love of Him for us. In this way we let Jesus continue His Transfiguration, His revelation, through our lives, revealing His presence, His glory and especially His love. “It is good for us to be here”, let us offer for Him dwellings in our hearts. Blessings. Fr. Mussie