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Matthew 17:2-7, Luke 9:32, Mark 9:5
Matthew 17:2 -- And He was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
Just take a moment to imagine this: the light of all lights is shining in front of you. All of the Father’s glory is right there and He is looking back at you with a love that is pure and undefiled. He is thirsting for you because you are His beloved. The Transfiguration is one of my favorite events in the Gospel because we get a tiny glimpse into the glory of Jesus and of what is waiting for us in heaven. This event in the Gospel gives us a chance to see just how amazing and awe-inspiring the divinity of Jesus is. It is something that is probably hard for us to wrap our mind around, but when I think about the image of Jesus shining like the sun and His clothes being as white as light, I am able to get just a little bit closer to understanding the glory of our Lord.
Peter, James, and John were probably extremely confused to be going up on that hill that day. I wonder if it just seemed like another ordinary day (as ordinary as it can be while following Jesus) or if they were told what was about to happen. My guess is that they were clueless, especially because they were so fearful! Jesus sees this though and comforts them by saying, “do not be afraid.” I think most would agree with me when I say that Jesus was not only talking to His apostles, but was talking to all of us. Jesus desires to show Himself to us in a very real way. He calls us to forget about our fear and to simply be in His presence. Like Peter, James, and John, we are called to overcome our fear and to give glory to our Lord.
There is also a very interesting parallel between the baptism of Jesus and His transfiguration. In Matthew 2:5 a voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” If you have been reading my previous studies, then you will have read about the Father saying almost the same exact thing during Jesus’ baptism. Something is added, though! Now there is also the command to listen to Jesus and this again, is a command for all of us. We are called to listen to Jesus and when we do this we take a part in the divine life of Jesus. When we listen to Jesus and actively participate in the Kingdom of God we shine just a little bit brighter. This light is not our own light, but the light of Jesus that shines through us. It is the kind of light that fills our hearts and makes us whole again. It strips our darkness and allows us to shine brighter than the sun.
Reflect: How is Jesus revealing His glory and light to you today?
Reflect: When you are confronted with the Lord’s glory do you take time to understand His glory or is your initial reaction fear? How can you overcome that fear and come to understand the Lord’s plan?
Act: Take time to thank the Lord today. Think about what you are holding on to that is preventing you from truly experiencing the light of the Lord in your life today. Give it all to Him and allow the Lord to work in you and through you.
