The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the “mountain top” experiences of our lives that opened our eyes to the Transcendent One.
Clarity of sight
The reading from the Book of Daniel is a vision of judgement before the Ancient One.
* [7:13-14] One like a son of man: In contrast to the worldly kingdoms opposed to God, which are represented as grotesque beasts, the coming Kingdom of God is represented by a human figure. Scholars disagree as to whether this figure should be taken as a collective symbol for the people of God (cf. ) or identified as a particular individual, e.g., the archangel Michael (cf. ) or the messiah. The phrase “Son of Man” becomes a title for Jesus in the gospels, especially in passages dealing with the Second Coming ( and parallels).1
Psalm 97 proclaims the Glory of God’s Reign.
* [Psalm 97] The hymn begins with God appearing in a storm, a traditional picture of some ancient Near Eastern gods ... Israel rejoices in the overthrowing of idol worshipers and their gods (–) and the rewarding of the faithful righteous...2
The reading from the Second Letter of Peter recalls the experience of being eyewitnesses of Christ’s Glory.
* [1:12-19] The purpose in writing is to call to mind the apostle’s witness to the truth, even as he faces the end of his life, his eyewitness testimony to Christ, and the true prophetic message through the Spirit in scripture, in contrast to what false teachers are setting forth 3
The Gospel of Matthew recounts the Transfiguration of Jesus.
* [17:1-8] The account of the transfiguration confirms that Jesus is the Son of God and points to fulfillment of the prediction that he will come in his Father’s glory at the end of the age. It has been explained by some as a resurrection appearance retrojected into the time of Jesus’ ministry, but that is not probable since the account lacks many of the usual elements of the resurrection-appearance narratives. It draws upon motifs from the Old Testament and non canonical Jewish apocalyptic literature that express the presence of the heavenly and the divine, e.g., brilliant light, white garments, and the overshadowing cloud.4
George Butterfield asks how will the peoples see his glory if his disciples do not join the heavens and proclaim his justice?
Peter, James, and John saw his power and glory and dedicated their lives to proclaiming his message of peace and justice for all. All people are welcome in this kingdom. All are treated with respect. From the least to the greatest, all are loved by God. There is judgment for those who withhold justice and trample others under their feet.May we who call upon the name of Jesus and are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit given to us by the Ancient One use our energy, our gifts, and all of the power that Jesus gives us to bring the justice of God to those around us.
And may the peoples see his glory.5
Don Schwager quotes “Listen to Him,” by Leo the Great, 400?-461 A.D.
"A voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. I am manifested through his preaching. I am glorified through his humility. So listen to him without hesitation. He is the truth and the life. He is my strength and wisdom. "Listen to him" whom the mysteries of the law foreshadowed, of whom the mouths of the prophets sang. "Listen to him" who by his blood redeemed the world, who binds the devil and seizes his vessels, who breaks the debt of sin and the bondage of iniquity. "Listen to him" who opens the way to heaven and by the pain of the cross prepares for you the steps of ascent into his kingdom." (excerpt from Sermon 38,7)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Peter 1:16-19 suggests that maybe we could observe this feast of the Transfiguration by recalling a situation in which we felt moved by God’s presence or his glory. Revisit that situation… and ask if there’s anyone we could share it with. Maybe a friend or family member who has fallen away from the faith could be uplifted.
We won’t see the transfigured Christ until the day when we meet him face-to-face. But isn’t it amazing that day after day, Jesus continues to reveal his glory through the sacraments?
“Jesus, open my eyes and help me to see your glory today!”7
Friar Jude Winkler traces the application of the passage from Daniel from the people of Israel to the person of Jesus. Daniel and the Songs of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah contribute to the words used by Jesus about Himself. Friar Jude reminds us of the resonance of our luminous moments with the Transfiguration experience.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares sometimes it takes a mystic to translate another mystic for the rest of us. CAC faculty member, and modern mystic James Finley helps us understand Meister Eckhart’s words.
Eckhart says, “The image owes no allegiances to anything except that of which it is the image.”. . . There is nothing that has the authority to say what it is except that of which it is the image. And so it is with us, Eckhart says, that we are the image of God. Without God, we are nothing, absolutely nothing. In being the image of God, we owe no allegiances to anything but the Infinite Love in whose image we are made. And the idolatry of diversions of the heart where we wander off into cul-de-sacs with the imagined authority of anything less or other than Infinite Love to name who we are: this is the problem.8
We may experience moments of clarity and gratitude for the Presence of God that encourage our journey as disciples of Jesus.
References
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