What is the significance of the Transfiguration? First of all it was an event of captivating beauty. It took place on a mountain. The mountains are places of God’s particular closeness. And Jesus often finds himself on different mountains. For example, earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, one of the defining moments is the Sermon on the Mount. There, on the mountain, Jesus the new Moses dispenses the law of the New Covenant. Last Sunday, in the Temptation, Jesus is also brought to a mountain by the Devil. It helps us appreciate that God is not far from Christ (and also therefore from us who are) struggling with temptation. In the background of the various mountain experiences of Jesus, we hear the echoes of the OT revelations at Sinai, Horeb and Moriah.Today, Mount Tabor, another mountain, is also the place where our profession of faith comes alive. In the gospel, his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Can you hear the echo of or at least appreciate the profession of our faith: Jesus in his communion with the Father reveals to us that He is God from God, light from light, true God from true God. Unlike Moses whose face shone with light received from his encounter with God, the light of Jesus shines out from within him.
Secondly, from the Temptation to Tabor, we can also discern an intensification of the process of initiation for those who are searching for the Way, the Truth and the Life and for those who are baptised, there is a deepening of discipleship. The white garment of Jesus’ transfiguration should be seen through the Book of Revelation. John the Evangelist speaks of the garments of the Elect that have become white because they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14). Through baptism, the Elect are united with Jesus’ Passion. His Passion is the purification that restores to the baptised the original garment lost through sin. The transfiguration shows us what will happen or what happens to those who seek baptism and those who are baptised—we are clothed with Jesus in light and we ourselves become light.
In that sense, the Transfiguration cannot be a once-off event. The little drop of water at the preparation of the gift reminds us of that. “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity”.
It has life-changing significance. It prods us to ask where God is leading us like He led Abram. In that, the symbol of the mountain is appropriate. The ascent, the going up the mountain symbolises the breaking free from the ordinariness of life. If we follow Jesus up the mountain then we will certainly encounter a God who speaks life-changing or life-liberating words to us. Even as we stand in awe at the revelation of the beauty and magnificence of the Divine Son of God, we are stopped in our track by a God whose Word challenges to make life-changing decisions. There is a lot at stake for so many of us. We can choose to merely exist. We go to the supermarket, watch movies, drink at pubs, marvel at the places of interest of our sight-seeing. In short, we busy ourselves with life. But, unfortunately, the busyness of life often has the unintended consequence of shielding us from hearing God.
If we do not merely exist, Lent can become the mountain where we live by choosing to hear the voice of the God who called Abram; even if it seems incomprehensible; even if it involves suffering according to St Paul in the 2nd Reading. And because it is life-changing, the Transfiguration is not a “wham and bang” event but is experienced as a gradual change of our loves and desires into the holiness of God. It means that slowly, my time, my energy, my work, my rest, my meetings—every single action of mine begins to radiate the brightness of the Light of Christ. That is why we make special attempts at fasting, praying and almsgiving because these practices of self-denial help in the process of changing so that little by little the splendour of the Father becomes more visible to the world. But, it must begin like Abram who chose to follow the will of God. Slowly and steadily we say yes. We may fall but we get up. Never losing hope but allowing God the greater freedom to change our lives. Let us ask for the grace as we progress further into the heart of Lent.
