93. Jesus’ transfiguration revealed his divine glory.

Jesus’ transfiguration revealed his divine glory.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 93

Ave Maria series

93  Why was Christ transfigured on the mountain?

The Father wanted to reveal the divine glory of his Son during Jesus’ earthly life.  Christ’s Transfiguration was meant to help the disciples later to understand his death and Resurrection.  [554-556, 568]

The Transfiguration of Jesus. .....93

Three Gospels relate how Jesus, on the mountaintop, begins to shine (is “transfigured”) before the eyes of his disciples.  The voice of his heavenly Father calls Jesus his “beloved Son”, to whom they are supposed to listen.  Peter would like to “make three booths” and capture the moment.  Jesus, however, is on the way that leads to suffering.  The vision of glory is only to strengthen his disciples.

“When one has the grace to have a strong experience of God, it is as if one is having an experience similar to that of the disciples during the Transfiguration: a momentary foretaste of what will constitute the happiness of Paradise.  These are usually brief experiences that are sometimes granted by God, especially prior to difficult trials.”  Pope Benedict XVI, March 12, 2006

And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes.  Mark 8:31

 [554-556, 568]

A foretaste of the Kingdom: the Transfiguration

554 From the day Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Master "began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things. . . and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (Matthew 16:21.)²⁹⁰ Peter scorns this prediction, nor do the others understand it any better than he. (Compare Matthew 16:22; Mt 17:23; Luke 9:45.)²⁹¹ In this context the mysterious episode of Jesus' Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain, (Compare Matthew 17:1-8 and parallels; 2 Peter 1:16-18.)²⁹² before three witnesses chosen by himself: Peter, James and John. Jesus' face and clothes become dazzling with light, and Moses and Elijah appear, speaking "of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem". (Luke 9:31.)²⁹³ A cloud covers him and a voice from heaven says: "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" (Luke 9:35.)²⁹⁴  –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

555 For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter's confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to "enter into his glory". (Luke 24:26.)²⁹⁵ Moses and Elijah had seen God's glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah's sufferings. (Compare Luke 24:27.)²⁹⁶ Christ's Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God's servant; (Compare Isaiah 42:1.)²⁹⁷ the cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. "The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Smma Theologiae III, 45, 4, ad 2.)²⁹⁸  –CCC

You were transfigured on the mountain, and your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld your glory, O Christ our God, so that when they should see you crucified they would understand that your Passion was voluntary, and proclaim to the world that you truly are the splendor of the Father. (Byzantine Liturgy, Feast of the Transfiguration, Kontakion.)²⁹⁹ –CCC

556 On the threshold of the public life: the baptism; on the threshold of the Passover: the Transfiguration. Jesus' baptism proclaimed "the mystery of the first regeneration", namely, our Baptism; the Transfiguration "is the sacrament of the second regeneration": our own Resurrection. (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae III, 45, 4, ad 2.)³⁰⁰ From now on we share in the Lord's Resurrection through the Spirit who acts in the sacraments of the Body of Christ. The Transfiguration gives us a foretaste of Christ's glorious coming, when he "will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:21.)³⁰¹ But it also recalls that "it is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God": (Acts of the Apostles 14:22.)³⁰²  –CCC

Peter did not yet understand this when he wanted to remain with Christ on the mountain. It has been reserved for you, Peter, but for after death. For now, Jesus says: "Go down to toil on earth, to serve on earth, to be scorned and crucified on earth. Life goes down to be killed; Bread goes down to suffer hunger; the Way goes down to be exhausted on his journey; the Spring goes down to suffer thirst; and you refuse to suffer?" (St. Augustine, Sermo 78, 6: PL 38, 492-493; compare Luke 9:33.)³⁰³ --CCC

Jesus' ascent to Jerusalem

558 Jesus recalls the martyrdom of the prophets who had been put to death in Jerusalem. Nevertheless he persists in calling Jerusalem to gather around him: "How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matthew 23:37.)³⁰⁶ When Jerusalem comes into view he weeps over her and expresses once again his heart's desire: "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes." (Luke 19:41-42.)³⁰⁷ --CCC