The texts, today, from the Roman Catholic Lectionary present
images of glory and brightness which human eyes can barely imagine. The Roman
Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord today. This
glorious event has been related in detail by St. Matthew (17:1-6), St. Mark (9:1-8), and St. Luke (9:28-36), while St. Peter (2 Peter 1:16-18) and St. John (1:14), two of the privileged witnesses, make allusion
to it. Fr Greg Friedman, OFM, comments that Luke presents Jesus as the
Prophet of God, par excellence, as Son of the Father. The passage from the
seventh chapter of the Book Of Daniel introduces One like a Son of man who is
given power, glory and dominion by the Father. This vision in the Book of
Daniel is associated with Maccabean times. The visions describe the national
crisis that occurred under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who
persecuted and slaughtered thousands of observant Jews. The Glory of God in the
visions of Daniel and in the Transfiguration of Jesus is a mountain top experience
which will bolster faithful to continue to struggle through the suffering which
comes from living lives faithful to our religious tradition. Peter may wish to
build tents and remain in the awe of the Presence, but the Father calls the Son
and His disciples to come down the mountain and continue our life journey
knowing that He is Present when we arrive at our Jerusalem and find our reception
is very similar to that of our Shepherd.
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