The Transfiguration

The Fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary



The Transfiguration
In the Transfiguration, Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently His after His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendor of His inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of His soul overflowed on His body, and permeated His garments so that Christ stood before Peter, James, and John in a snow-white brightness. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master's prediction of His own Passion and Death. The Apostles were made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross, and glory—that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suffer with Him. — Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

Jesus and the three apostles Peter, James and John went up to the top of Mount Tabor. At a certain moment the divine Master disappeared from their sight to reappear all at once in a glory of light and splendor. Moses and Elijah stood on either side of him, and Jesus was talking to them. Moses represented the Law, Elijah the prophecies that had been made through the centuries, foretelling the Redemption of man. What was Jesus speaking about with these two personages of the Old Testament? Certainly not about human and worldly opinions and enterprises, nor about the enjoyment of this transient life, but about the fulfillment of the purpose of God's infinite goodness, in accordance with which the Son of God made man was about to suffer and die on the Cross in order to save mankind.

The three apostles were not yet capable of understanding all this; they were so entranced by the vision that they wished it could last for ever, so intense was the joy of their hearts. Stricken with awe they fell to the ground, but were soon raised again by Jesus who had re-assumed his ordinary human appearance. "Rise, and have no fear." That was the first order he gave them, and then, as they were coming down from the mountain, he said: "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead".

In this episode described by St Matthew there is a profound and sublime lesson for all times, and for Christians of all sorts and conditions. In this earthly life we must not expect every hour to offer us joy, pleasures and glory, even if we seek these with an honest and legitimate purpose.

text from Catholic Culture

.