The Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ
Holy Day of Obligation.
Read
2 Peter 1:10-19; Matthew 17:1-9
Being a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ is both gloriously joyful and sadly challenging. Throughout our life, we experience the joy, peace, and awe that Peter, James, and John experienced on Mount Tabor at the Transfiguration of Christ. Those experiences draw us in closer to Christ; they affirm for us our faith and encourage us to continue worshipping one God in the Holy Trinity.
Like the disciples, however, we come down from the mountain in this world and we are faced with the challenges that this fallen world gives us: hatred, suffering, and sadness which all contribute to the moments of doubt that we sometimes experience.
In the moments of doubt, we need to remember and remind ourselves of the glory and joy we experience. Jesus took those three disciples up to Mount Tabor in order to strengthen them for what was to come, namely His betrayal, suffering, crucifixion, and burial. He showed them His glory so that it would keep them faithful while they had to hide for fear of the Jews. We too need to take our Transfiguration experiences of joyful glory and allow them to strengthen us during our trials, tribulations, and doubts. The glory and joy we experience now are but a foretaste of what is to come.
“For the Transfiguration was nothing else but a foretaste of the last day when the just will shine in glory with God.” – Philagathos, Monk of Rossano