UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS IN OUR LIVES

-Fr. Andy Fani, SVD-

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Today we enter the second week of Lent. Today's Gospel shows us the transfiguration of Jesus. Literally, transfiguration means a change of face. The transfiguration of Jesus took place in a very enchanting situation. It is said that in the transfiguration of Jesus, Jesus presented Himself before His disciples, namely Peter, John and James as a bright and radiant figure. When the three disciples saw Him, Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah. Then they heard a voice crying out from heaven, “This is my son, the beloved. Listen to Him”.

Symbolically, the appearance of Moses and Elijah represented the Law and the prophets. Yet God's voice from heaven, “This is my son, the beloved. Listen to Him,” clearly indicates that the Law and the prophets must give way to Jesus. Jesus is the new way and life that replaces the old way and life. Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the fulfilment of the prophecies of countless prophets in the Old Testament.

Peter, John and James were the key witnesses to the transfiguration. The three of them would correctly understand the meaning of Jesus' transfiguration when they later witnessed his death and resurrection. In my opinion, the glorified body of Jesus at the transfiguration is closely related to His resurrection body. If the resurrection of Christ was not preceded by the transfiguration, then the story of the resurrection would only be a myth. Because in the event of Jesus' resurrection, there were no key witnesses who saw it directly, at the moment it occurred. However, in the transfiguration of Jesus, the three disciples witnessed it firsthand. The transfiguration and resurrection of Jesus witnessed Jesus' true identity as the eternal, glorious, and powerful Son of God.

This transfiguration of Jesus took place on the way to Jerusalem, where He was to suffer. There are two meanings that we can learn from this event. Firstly, the story of Jesus' transfiguration is deliberately placed here on Jesus' journey to Jerusalem so that people see and understand the connection between the glory and the mystery of the cross. The cross is indeed a tragedy. According to Roman tradition, the cross was a place of punishment for criminals. It was something to be ashamed of. But for us Catholics, the cross has become something else. It has become a symbol of victory. Therefore, for Catholics, suffering or the cross is not the end of the world. Behind the cross lies glory, triumph and victory.

Secondly, the fact that Jesus is the Father's favoured Son does not at all mean that He is exempt from suffering. In other words, the Father's love for Jesus Christ was in no way diminished by the suffering of Jesus Christ. God the Father continued to love Jesus Christ even though Jesus Christ suffered terribly. This gives the same message to suffering Catholics. The fact that some people suffer, even senselessly, in no way means that God does not love them.

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a central event in our faith, rich in theological meaning and practical application. The way of Jesus Christ is our way too. If Jesus Christ, our Saviour, had to suffer first before gaining victory, then the same applies to us. We cannot attain happiness, victory, success, unless we patiently carry our own crosses. But in all the things we go through, especially with the crosses we carry, believe that God still loves us. “Do not forget, God loves you.”

Through the experience of the disciples (Peter, James and John), we are also invited and called by Jesus to climb the mountain, then experience His glory, to live together in fellowship. We must also come down from the mountain, sent by Jesus to live our concrete lives in this world with all its challenges.

We are invited to know and love Jesus more deeply. After Jesus revealed His glory to us, then let us also express our faith in Him, that Jesus is God who has become human. In His transfiguration, we get to know our Saviour better.

Finally, in this Lenten season, let us increasingly live out our call to communion with Jesus Christ our Lord so that we are able to fulfil our mission in this world with faith, hope and love for Him.

PEACE BE WITH YOU