Matthew 17:1-9

1 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 will make three dwellings 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; 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.”

They Saw No One Except Jesus

This Sunday, we are invited to climb another mountain with Jesus and three of His team, Peter, James and John. He chose these three to witness His inspirational miracles, as in Capernaum when He brought the daughter of synagogue leader back to life (Mt 9, Lk 8, Mk 5), in His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor (V. 2), and in Jerusalem. They who witnessed His glory on the mountain will also witness His humiliation at Gethsemane (Mt 26, Mk 14, Lk 22 and Jn 18)!

From the top of the Mt of Transfiguration, looking to southwest, we can see the village of Nain, where Jesus brought back to life the son of a widow in Luke 7:11-15. If those three had looked back at that village, perhaps they would have remembered that the One who spoke to them of His suffering, death, and resurrection is the Almighty who overcomes death and brings forth life. He is Life itself (John 11:25 and 14:6).

Meditated upon by the Eastern Church, the Transfiguration reveals many realities for a Christian life.

From the mountains, Mt. Horeb in Sinai, Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem, Mt. Nebo in Jordan, the Mt. of the Temptation near Jericho, Mt. Carmel in the east, the Mt. of Beatitudes by the Sea of Galilee and Mt. Tabor near Nazareth in Galilee, from these mountains, divine inspirations descend from heaven to earth, making the earth a partner in heavenly life.
Trust in Jesus, the Son of God and son of man, the voice of the Father is reconfirming what He said on the day Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. "This is my beloved Son," and now the voice adds, "Listen to Him" (V. 5).

You have recognized Jesus as "the Messiah, the Son of the Living God" in Matthew 16:16. You have even rebuked Him, refusing the announcement of His death and resurrection in Matthew 16:22. Where is your faith? Listen to Him!

Romans 8:18 says, "The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us." Listen to Him guide our thoughts, initiatives and actions to reflect His loving presence and His bright light.
Transfigure in linguistics means "to alter the outward form to make more elevated and spiritual." This is what Jesus reveals to His disciples who witness the event and comprehend/grasp it as much as they can.
"Don't be afraid." Again and again, Jesus is redressing the disciples' doubt about His identity as the Messiah, Son of God and son of man. Suffering as a human doesn't affect the divinity that He reveals to them through His human body.
The Presence of Moses and Elijah speaking to Him (V. 3), is seen as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. It also represents life through Elijah and death through Moses. Jesus Christ is the Almighty Lord of both life and death.
Jesus "who is before Abraham was" (John 8:58) thanks Moses and Elijah for their faithfulness and entrusts the deposit of faith to His disciples, even though they are not fully aware of what is happening.
The Transfiguration is also considered as a prefigure of the glorious Resurrection.
When we face doubt and our faith is challenged, let us pray to "see no body but Jesus alone (V. 8)."
Enter the cloud with the three disciples. What does it mean to hear Peter say, "...We were eyewitnesses of his glory...when a voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son...with him I am well pleased” 2 Peter 1:16-17?

We are urged to trust in Jesus, to listen to Him, to witness for His loving presence and bear witness to His guiding light.

Amen