TRANSFIGURATION – A CHECK POINT

Wilson SVD

2^nd Sunday of the Lent (A)

                    Gen  12: 1-4;    2 Tim 1: 8-10;     Mtt 17: 1-9

Jesus ascends a mountain taking three of his intimate disciples (Peter, James and John) and on the top of the mountain  (the mountain name is not specified and that is not important as well), he was suddenly transfigured before them (μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν). How; ‘his face shone like the sun’ (ἔλαμψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος - after Moses beheld God’s glory, his own face shone with that glory cf. Exod 34:29–35, Dan 12:3, 2 Esdr 7:97), his garments became ‘as white as light’ (λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς). Moses and Elijah appear and converse with Jesus. A calm and serene atmosphere exits, Peter offers to pitch three tents to continue to dwell there. And from the bright cloud a voice exclaims, “This is my beloved son, in whom I take delight, listen to him.” Jesus and the three disciples descend from the mountain. What is the significance of this event?

Transfiguration is a fascinating story in the Gospel of Matthew that has wealth of theological significance and intertextual associations. All the synoptic Gospel writers have recorded this event (Mk 9, 2-13; Lk 9, 28-36, Mtt 17, 1-9). The event of transfiguration is sandwiched between the first and second prediction of Jesus about his own death and resurrection (Mtt 16, 21-23 & 17, 22-23). Therefore, the story of transfiguration has distinctively manifold meanings, however, I perceive this event to be serving primarily two main purposes;

1. A check point for Jesus

2. An assurance for the disciples that Jesus is the messiah

 A check point for Jesus

We know of the mount of temptation and the mount of sermon and now the mount of transfiguration. At this point of Matthean narrative, there is a possibility that Jesus was under certain predicaments; an inner desire for confirmation of his further journey. Why did Jesus go to mountain top? Why did he make this expedition to the lonely mountain slope? To be with himself, to pray and to consult God, the Father. We must place ourselves, as far as we can, in Jesus’ place. By this time, he was on the way to the Cross. Jesus had to make quite sure beyond any doubt that he was doing what God wishes him to do. He needed to check himself and proceeded confidently. He had to make pretty sure that it was indeed God’s will that he should go to the cross. Jesus went up to mountain to ask God, ‘Am I doing God’s will in setting my face to go to Jerusalem?’ Jesus went up to listen the voice of God. He would take no step without consulting God. How then could he take the biggest step of all without consulting him? Of everything Jesus could have asked one question and only one question: “Is it God’s will for me?” And that is the question, he was probably battling within in the loneliness of the slopes of the mountain. The fact that Jesus restricts this experience to the inner circle of his disciples points to its particularly special character, the necessity to keep it secret as this was his personal struggle - the need for further authentication that he is on a right path. I am more inclined to believe that Transfiguration confirms Jesus' self-understanding of Who he is and his identity is reiterated and authenticated by the voice from the heaven, “This is my beloved son, in whom I take delight, listen to him.” (A repetition of Baptismal promise). In biblical tradition, cloud is symbolic presence of God (Ex 13:21, 22, 40:34, 34:5, 1 Kgs 8:10, 11, 2 Chles 5:13).

We can evidently infer a chiastic structure from this narrative:

a. Narrative introduction (1)

b. Jesus is transfigured (2–3)

c. Peter’s response (4)

d. The divine voice (5)

c. The disciples’ response (6)

b. Jesus speaks (7)

a. Narrative conclusion (8, 9)

and if so, then God is the centre character of this pericope. Hence, God affirms and endorses and Jesus descends from the mountain to continue his mission with renewed enthusiasm and zeal.

Jesus heard the voice of his Father at Baptism and overcame the temptation in the wilderness. Now, he prepares to enter the holy city of Jerusalem, knowing well the implications and here again his Father speaks, reassures, confirms and affirms. The presence of Moses and Elijah, the two great figures of Israelite history, reiterates God’s affirmation.  The mount of transfiguration initiates the heroic journey of Jesus towards the mount of Calvary, the most adventurous journey in human history, a journey beset with perils, a journey involving a cross, but a journey enveloped in glory. The mount of transfiguration shadows in anticipation the mount of Calvary.

Significance of Moses and Elijah

Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets beyond any doubt but their presence is a symbolic expression of a more profound indication for Jesus. Both of them encountered many enemies in their lives and there is something uncanny about the way they left this world. It is assumed that God took Moses away (Dt 34: 5-6) and Elijah was taken away in a chariot of horses and fire (2 Kg 2, 11). Jesus too will undergo not a mysterious death but a shameful one, a death on a cross in order make the world glorious. Moses and Elijah now appear before Jesus and Jesus will be resurrected from the death and will be glorified, thus, law and the prophets culminate in Jesus, therefore Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah.

2. An assurance for the disciples that Jesus is the messiah

A few days ago, the disciples heard Jesus speaking in a most unexpected and disconcerting way about his death; probably they were confused, they needed at this point some assurance of the true identity of Jesus as messiah, the Son of God. This is particularly important because Jesus needs them to hold on to him and later continue his ministry.  Hence, there is a pressing need for Jesus at this point of commencing his decisive journey towards Jerusalem to assure his disciples that he is truly the messiah but not exactly the messiah of their expectation. The logical presentation of this event is clear; Jesus elicits his messiahship and proceeds to instruct the disciples, the truth concerning his identity as the messiah, the Son of God- a contradictory messiah, a suffering servant. Father endorses the identity of Jesus as the messiah, and the presence of Moses and Elijah indicates the imminent passion, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The disciples see Jesus as they had never seen him before, a glorious Lord. The mount of transfiguration transforms the disciples, alters their conception about the messiah and vindicates that Jesus must walk the path of rejection and crucifixion. The disciples’ perspective on Jesus changed with this experience. The suffering servant and the glorious messiah are blended perfectly well.

Our lives

The Mount of Transfiguration was for Jesus a spiritual mountain peak. Was he taking the right way? Was he right to journey out to Jerusalem and embrace the Cross? I would say, it was the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration that enabled Jesus to unyieldingly walk the way to/of the Cross. We too need check points in our lives. I am more than convinced that every now and then, we need to do a check, an introspection, a soul-searching exercise; where am I going? What am I doing? Am I on the right path? Are my goals just?, etc. It’s very normal for us to be at the cross roads of our lives; desperately longing for a direction, a confirmation, a word of affirmation. Like Jesus we ought to go to the mountain top to listen to and to be refreshed by God.  There are many things that can trouble us, create doubt in us; anxiety, worry, fear, sin, debt, career, failures, sickness, etc. Are we struggling to know God’s will in our lives?  Then the event of transfiguration speaks directly to us. Mountain is a place of encounter with God. Mountains are symbols of our lives, they inspire us, test our strength and expose our weaknesses. These mountains or the check points could be the our moments of prayer. At the mountains, we are pulled out of the ordinary life and are energized to face the valleys in our lives. These check points produce fruits only when they are accompanied by prayer, faith in God and obedience to God’s ways.  Our perspectives change in presence of God. Our lives are transformed in the presence of God.  

 Where is my mountain, my place of encounter with God, my place of stillness, solitude, quiet, reflection. It can be anywhere where I feel comfortable. It was on Mount Horeb that Elijah encountered God, not in the wind, and not in the earthquake, but in the still small voice (1 Kings 19:9–12). Let me stop, check, confirm and proceed to celebrate life for life is beautiful….