The Transfiguration

08-06-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi

While Jesus was in Galilee, about one year before His Passion, He manifested His glory to three of His most beloved disciples—the same who were afterward witnesses of His Agony in the Garden: Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John. He led them to the summit of Mount Tabor, as it is generally believed—this mountain, situated in Galilee, best answering the description of the evangelists.

The face of the Divine Savior became resplendent as the sun and His garments white as snow. Moses and Elijah appeared at His side and conversed with Him on the death He was to suffer at Jerusalem. Peter, in admiration, exclaimed: “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” He then proposed to erect three tents: one for the Savior, another for Moses, and a third for Elijah.

While he was still speaking, a luminous cloud enveloped them and a voice was heard proceeding from it: “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him.” The three Apostles fell prostrate; but Jesus touched them and commanded them to arise. When they arose, the vision had vanished and our Lord stood beside them in His ordinary guise.

It was fitting that those who so soon should behold Jesus in the depths of the humiliation to which His sacred humanity was to be subject in Gethsemane should catch a glimpse of that glorified humanity and of His Divinity, that they might be strengthened against temptation.