Feast of the Transfiguration

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

When I meditate on this particular event my mind is typically drawn to Christ's status as the New Moses, the "prophet like me" of whom Moses had spoken, through whom we receive "grace and truth" as well as the "new" fundamental "command" to love one another, and a corresponding "new law" of love.

The Gospels marvelously depict our Lord as this New Moses typologically. Just as Moses escaped the slaughter of innoncents in his infancy, so too did Jesus. Just as Moses took refuge in the courts of Egypt, so too did Jesus. Just as Moses led the People through the sea (thereby 'baptizing' them), so too does Jesus walk over the sea and partake of baptism. Just as Moses fed the People with manna from heaven, so too does Jesus, multiplying the loaves and then proclaiming Himself to be the true Bread from heaven which gives life to the world. Just as Moses fasted for forty days before ascending the Mountain and delivering the Old Covenant Law, so too Jesus fasts for forty days before ascending the Mountain and delivering the New Covenant "Law." Just as Moses appoints 12 to judge over the 12 tribes of Israel, and then another 70 later, so too does Jesus appoint 12 and then an additional 70. And finally, just as Moses' face shown with the reflected glory of God, when he had climbed the Mountain with his three closest companions, so too Jesus' face shines with glory on the Mountain, as witnessed by His three closest companions - together with Moses and Elijah.

The typology discloses similarities and differences, one of which is really striking to me. Moses had to veil his face because of the brightness of the reflected glory of God. Jesus' glory - not reflected glory, but His own possession - is also veiled in a sense, but one sees from the Gospels that it isn't so much Christ Himself who is veiled as it is we ourselves who are veiled: we're the ones who can't always see what's right under our noses, and it often enough takes a supernatural act of God to give us right vision, to enable us to perceive the glory of God where Deus absconditus wishes to conceal Dei gloria. As on the road to Emmaus, so now: we don't always recognize Him for what He is, until He opens the Scriptures for us and makes Himself known in the breaking of the Bread (Luke 24:1-35).

This fact connects well with an aspect of the Transfiguration narrative that I've tended to neglect in my own thoughts and prayers. As I mentioned, my mind is typically drawn to Jesus as the fulfillment of Moses; but the readings for today focus not so much on Christ as the definitive Prophet and "Law giver" as they do on Christ as the Son of Man - the glorious reigning King. Here are the readings for this year's feast of the Transfiguration:

Reading I: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw: One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the LORD of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory.

R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Reading II: 2 Peter 1:16-19

Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them,“Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

It's altogether fitting that the lectionary's focus (this cycle/year) is upon Christ's fulfillment of these Old Testament royal themes, especially in light of the placement of the Transfiguration narrative within the Gospel narratives as a whole. Jesus has just admitted that He is the "Christ, the Son of the Living God," as St. Peter had put it, and He'd thereby announced His intention to restore the kingdom of David (or initiate the kingdom of heaven). Directly after that, but before the Transfiguration, we see Jesus declaring that "the Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father's glory, and then He will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom" (Mt 16:27-28). The Transfiguration, though not the complete or principal fulfillment of this prophecy of Christ's, at least gives us a foretaste of it, as the lectionary's use of Daniel indicates. And so on.

Yet all of this also connects with the present hiddenness of Christ's glory. For He is reigning in glory right now, though that fact is just as veiled to us as it was to Peter, James and John, before and after the Transfiguration episode. And it's hard for us to maintain our faith in His dominion sometimes for that reason. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that St. Peter was so keen on pitching a few tents? To try to keep this gracious vision of the glorified Son of Man around; to hold onto the moment and make it permanent? Yet Jesus, for His own reasons, does not wish the vision of His glory to be permanent; not here and now. For just as He disallowed St. Mary Magdalene to cling to His resurrected Body - "Stop holding onto Me, I have not yet ascended to the Father" (Jn 20:17) - St. Peter's generous tent-building offer is likewise declined.

Why does Christ wish His glory to remain hidden? Why are the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ" (Col 2:3)? This aspect of God's "character" is irresistably attractive to me, but I do not really understand it.

This leads to one final thought about the Transfiguration narrative. Christ's glory, usually hidden, is revealed in its splendor (1) atop the mountain, (2) in the presence of Moses and Elijah, (3) concomitantly with His identification as God's Beloved Son. It's usually concealed, but His glory is revealed in spurts, and I find in my own experience that it is revealed most often when Christ is recognized and confessed as God's Beloved Son (as per #3), when we contemplate His words and actions prayerfully - atop the mountain, Jesus' favorite place to retreat and pray (as per #1) - and, most especially, when we see Christ as the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah), all of which find their consummation in Him, all of which are "about Him," all of which point straight at Him, not only in word but also in sign (as per #2; cf. Luke 24:27).