2^nd Sunday of Lent    New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Matthew Chapter 17   The Transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I[a] will make three dwellings[b] here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While He was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved;[c] with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

STUDY NOTES

Transfiguration: This word is rooted in the two words – ‘trans’ meaning ‘across’ and ‘figura’ meaning ‘form or shape’. Thus this Lenten Gospel is about a change in the appearance of Jesus Christ. In this moment He remains both human and divine. The word is also related to the word ‘metamorphoo’ meaning a kind of ‘metamorphasis’ – as in a caterpillar to a butterfly. Similar to the Gospel but not exactly. It is most interesting that this Gospel has always been known as “The Transfiguration”.

 In Matthew Chapter 16 St Peter at Caesar Philippi proclaims Jesus as the Christ then later in the chapter Jesus says ~   27 “For the Son of Man is to come with His angels in the glory of his Father, and then He will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

On the mountain top is when those three standing here see the Son of Man coming is His Kingdom.  Some have incorrectly interpreted Chapter16 as to mean some will still be alive when the Final Judgement is upon us. But the Final Judgement is not yet upon us and they have all died. So is this a prophecy of end times? This is not the meaning, rather Chapter 16 leads to the Gospel of the Transfiguration and the ‘the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom’ here on mountain. That is His manifestation in the Transfiguration.

As Pope Benedict states that it has been  “. . . convincingly argued that the placing of this saying immediately before the Transfiguration clearly relates it to this event. Some—that is to say, the three disciples who accompany Jesus up the mountain—are promised that they will personally witness the coming of the Kingdom of God 'in power.' On the mountain the three of them see the glory of God’s Kingdom shining out of Jesus. On the mountain they are overshadowed by God’s holy cloud. On the mountain—in the conversation of the transfigured Jesus with the Law and the Prophets—they realize that the true Feast of Tabernacles has come. On the mountain they learn that Jesus Himself is the living Torah, the complete Word of God. On the mountain they see the 'power' (dynamis) of the Kingdom that is coming in Christ" (Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1, p. 317).

Jesus is                                                                                                                   the FULLNESS of the KINGDOM of God.                                                                           

 They saw His divinity; they saw the Kingdom on the mountain top.

VERSE 1  Six days later… – this mention of time links Chapter 16 with the Transfiguration. It is as to say – and then this occurred ….. This links St Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus as Messiah as well as there are some here who will                     ( soon ) see the Kingdom while alive. This stresses the fulfillment of Chapter 16. Mark uses 6 days and Luke uses 8 days in their Gospel– it was ‘soon’ afterwards.

Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John….. the three in the inner circle (see the Gospel that follows of the arguing of who is best).  They were with Jesus in it the Garden of Gethsemane. They needed extra strength and grace. This experience was to sustain them. Catechism explains it this way: Christ’s Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his Passion: the ascent onto the 'high mountain' prepares for the ascent to Calvary. Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what his Body contains and radiates in the sacraments: 'the hope of glory' [CCC 568]. And yet the three fell asleep in the Garden, just as in Luke’s Gospel of the Transfiguration ‘and while He ( Jesus ) was praying’ …….. ‘Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep.’                   As they fell asleep here on mountain they fell asleep in Garden. Yikes !

…and led them up a high mountain.  Some scholars see this as Mount Hermes since it is in the north part of the country but almost all sight it as Mount Tabor.  Mount Tabor was naturally close and is at a strategic place in the country.                   Mount Tabor in Old Testament – first mentioned in Joshua 19:22 as boundary of tribes of Zebulen, Issachar and Naphtali. Judges 4:6 Deborah the prophetess with General Barak defeats the Canaanites at Mount Tabor. Often it was used as Light Beacon for the Hebrew villages signally when Feasts were to start ( Christ of Mount Tabor is the Light of the World ). 3^rd century Origen identifies Mount Tabor, 4^th century St Jerome and St Cyril of Jerusalem identify Mount Tabor as the place.  1919- 1924 the Franciscans built a church here. Mountain top spiritual experiences are common to many religions. Both Moses and Elijah were on Mount Sinai             (Mount Hermon) – Moses twice (Exodus 19 and 34 – in chapter 34 he was 40 DAYS on mountain)  Elijah ( 1 Kings 19) and now they appear together on this mountain.

VERSE 2 And He was transfigured before them and His face shone as the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white.  Compare with the Luke and Mark Gospel.                The appearance of Jesus’ face ( specifically in Mt) was like that of Moses when he saw YHWH – Exodus 34:29-35 and Exodus 24:15-18  -- Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain.

VERSE 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him.  Moses is the Law-Giver and Elijah the Prophet. Both Moses and Elijah in their deaths were quite similar – Moses upon reaching near the Jordan Valley turned and wandered east into the wilderness to die –we do not know where he is buried; Elijah was taken up in the chariot to the heavens – he is not buried.  Yet here now both are alive in God; both are alive in Jesus Christ.  For in Jesus Christ all is fulfilled – the Law and Prophets are fulfilled in Him alone – in the power of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. This is why the Transfiguration points towards Jesus’ Death and Rising. The Prophets point this way. The Law points this way.  We see this again with the Emmaus Gospel after the Resurrection where Jesus showed to them in the Law and the Prophets that the Messiah was to suffer and die. This is the heart of the Gospel and one of the many reasons why Moses and Elijah are here in the first place. It is not only of the revelation of Jesus’ divinity but of His mission.

VERSE 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish,            I will make three dwellings here, one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter wants to stay in this experience – lets just make our home here, away from everyone and everything.  Peter does not see how Moses and Elijah point the way to the suffering, death and rising that Jesus just spoke of in Chapter 16

As St Augustine writes :

Peter sees this, and as a man savouring the things of men says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here” (Matt 17:4) He had been wearied with the multitude, he had found now the mountain’s solitude; there he had Christ the Bread of the soul. Why should he depart thence again to travail and pains, possessed of a holy love to Godward, and thereby of a good conversation? He wished well for himself; and so he added, “If Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” To this the Lord made no answer; but notwithstanding Peter was answered. “For while he yet spake, a bright cloud came, and overshadowed them” (Matt 17:5).  He desired three tabernacles; the heavenly answer showed him that we have One, which human judgment desired to divide. Christ, the Word of God, the Word of God in the Law, the Word in the Prophets. Why, Peter, dost thou seek to divide them? It were more fitting for thee to join them. Thou seekest three; understand that they are but One.      

The use of the word ‘dwelling’ in the Transfiguration Gospel:  The word can be translated as ‘dwellings’ or ‘tents’ or ‘booths’ or ‘tabernacles’, as it harkens back to the Feast of Booths in Exodus 35 – 37 whereby the Hebrew People commemorated the wandering in the desert by setting up temporary shelters (booths) for one week. This is how the Jewish calendar ends – with the Feast of Booths. Thus here Peter specifically wishes to set up a tent, booth or dwelling place just as the Hebrew People did centuries beforehand for their Living and True God. He wishes a tabernacle !  As St Augustine states, Peter wishes to set three but failed to see the deeper meaning of the presence of Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ. These three are not equal – only Jesus is God the Son, only He is tented; only He is Law and Prophet. Indeed there is not three but one unity here and thus one tent. All are in Christ. All point to His Death and Rising.

Verse 5 While He was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them. Again an illusion to Exodus 24:25 Exodus 40:34-35 that God was manifested in the cloud on mountain, in the desert as a cloud by day and fire by night. Here God rests upon this Mount Tabor.

…and from the cloud a voice said. “This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him.”   It is one thing to see the cloud but to hear the voice of God – wow and yikes - the Father speaks three things: He is My Son / I am pleased with Him / Listen to Him. These were spoken of Jesus at His baptism in the Jordan River as Jesus started His mission and now is repeated in this ‘second’ part of the mission before Him.  These three statements of Jesus by the Father were being challenged by the religious leaders at the time – they said Jesus cannot be the Son of God / we are not ‘amused’ or pleased / do not listen to Him.  Again pointing towards Jesus’ Death and Resurrection.  God’s voice is commanding –               a form of rebuke to Peter -listen! It is about His Mission; His Death and Rising !

VERSE 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.   This is a true holy fear of God. Not to be scared of God                      but holy fear that leads to obedience, love and grace.  This fear leads them –                     to convince them; encourage them; strengthen them.

VERSE 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.   Jesus is so comforting and kind – He came to them and He touches them. He strengthens them and reassures them. He does not judge their faith.  A touch –             He is real. He is not a spirit or ghost with Moses and Elijah – He is real. He is reassuring. Indeed God’s Revelation to His People is a demonstration of His Love and Grace – we just get overwhelmed by it.

2 Corinthians 3:18  And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

Romans 12:1 – 2  I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 1:14     And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

QUESTIONS

1.    THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST – HUMAN AND DIVINE.         HAVE YOU EMPHASIZED ONE MORE THAN THE OTHER IN YOUR LIFE ?

2.    ONE’S NATURAL RESPONSE TO GOD MAY INDEED BE THIS HOLY FEAR.        WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ?

3.    GOD’S REVELATION TO US IS A SIGN THAT HE LOVES US.    IF YOU WISH PLEASE SHARE A MOMENT WHEN GOD WAS REVEALED IN YOUR LIFE.  LIFE, CROSS, RESURRECTION ?

4.     IF YOU HAD TO PREACH THIS SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT ON THE TRANSFIGURATION WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR HOMILY BE ?