
A traditional depiction of the Transfiguration of Christ as described in the New Testament. (Credit: Stock image.)
A traditional depiction of the Transfiguration of Christ as described in the New Testament. (Credit: Stock image.)
Today is the feast of the Transfiguration. It’s a holy day celebrating one of those really important events in the life of Jesus Christ that is surprisingly unknown, or unappreciated, by the vast majority of Christian believers in the West.
For many, the name of the feast day means very little. Perhaps once an explanation begins, they might remember aspects of it. For a few others, however, the summary of the event might be something like: 1) Jesus took a few of his apostles up a mountain, 2) he became very radiant, 3) then a couple of other people showed up with him, and 4) the apostles were really impressed.
Now, hopefully my observation is misplaced, and more believers actually understand the Transfiguration than I suspect. But leaving this act of hope aside, let’s run with that skeletal review above.
For starters, it’s actually not a bad review of the sequence of events. The troubling part, however, is that it sounds more like a report from a spectator than the sacred memory of a disciple.
In remembering the Transfiguration, the believer is summoned to understand its spiritual depths and its significance to their interior life. Every event in the life of the Lord Jesus is a treasury of heavenly wisdom and its remembrance can become a font of grace to those who observe it. In particular, the Transfiguration stands out. But why?
What wisdom or application does the Transfiguration offer to believers? How can this feast day help Christian disciples in our world today?
Well, let’s go back to the spectator’s report.
Decades later, in a letter ascribed to Saint Peter, the community of the apostle recounting his enduring impression of the Transfiguration, recorded on his behalf: “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty… We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”
The pressing lesson, given throughout the event and its narrative, is the desire of God to share his love and glory with humanity. As the letter of Saint Peter would continue, the voice of the apostle admonishes believers with words of endearment: “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
This is an invitation to our own kind of transfiguration. It’s a call to accept what is offered, to live what is modeled, and to share a glory that has been revealed.