Reading 1
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched:
Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw:
One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.
97:1-2, 5-6, 9
Responsorial PsalmR. (1a and 9a)
The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Reading II
2 Pt 1:16-19
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Gospel
Mt 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Meditation: Matthew 17:1-9
The Transfiguration of the Lord
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 17:5)
This story of the Transfiguration is filled with Old Testament imagery: a mountain, a mysterious cloud, and a voice from heaven. It’s so rich, in fact, that some scholars have suggested that Matthew made it up. Others think that something like this story did happen, but Matthew enhanced the event in a way that made Jesus seem larger than life. After all, how bright can someone’s clothes really get?
But if we take the position that the Transfiguration is either fabricated or exaggerated, we need answer some important questions: Why do both Mark and Luke tell a very similar story? Why does 2 Peter testify to it just as emphatically? And more to the point: Why did countless men and women risk their lives to tell others that Jesus is the Son of God? Why did so many believers keep building the church in the midst of great persecution?
Why? Because events like the Transfiguration really did happen! Because Jesus really did show himself to be the Lord of glory, God’s beloved Son.
Jesus really is who the Scriptures and the apostles say he is. And that means that we can rely on him for our salvation. God didn’t transfigure Jesus just to impress the apostles. He did it to convince them to take him seriously. He did it so that when they faced the trauma of his arrest and crucifixion, they would recall his glory and trust that somehow God would bring about a good ending.
How about you? Has God convinced you? Are there areas in your life that need further convincing? The Feast of the Transfiguration is a day of grace and favor, when God’s revelation flows freely. So come to Jesus. Imagine yourself on the mountain with Peter, James, and John. Ask God to give you a greater glimpse of his Son’s glory. Ask him to fill you with confidence in Jesus and his power to save. The Transfiguration is a promise for all of us—we can be changed by his glory!
“Holy Spirit, I believe in Jesus. Open my eyes that I may see more of his glory today. Open my ears that I may hear and listen more deeply.”
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