An Advance Glimpse of the Glory that will be Ours

Introduction 
According to St. Luke, when Jesus is about to depart for Jerusalem to make his “exodus” for his passion and death, the light of his resurrection is already projected on him at his transfiguration. It comes as an encouraging foretaste of his glory to strengthen him on the road to suffering. Shortly before the Passion, when the faith of the apostles will be sorely tested, Jesus shows them his true face transfigured by God’s light. Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, also bear witness to him. This is God’s beloved Son: listen to him, look beyond appearances. This vision and message are also given to us in the Eucharist of today.

First Reading: The Son of Man 
At a time of persecution, the prophet sees a vision of a transfigured world. The son of man – symbolizing God’s people, perhaps the Messiah – will no longer suffer but be honoured and will share in God’s glory.

1 Reading Daniel 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.

Responsorial Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
R. (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.

Like A Lamp Lighting the Way 
The apostles present at the transfiguration did not fully realize what was going on. Later they understood and testified that Jesus is not a myth but the foundation of faith and life.

2 Reading 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 honour 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.

Alleluia Matthew 17:5c
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: The True Face of Jesus
After Jesus had spoken to his apostles about his coming suffering, Jesus and the apostles – and we – are given a vision of the glory and resurrection that will come.

Gospel Mark 9:2-10
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Commentary
August 6: The feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. How could we keep the memory of these two events on the same day? In one, Christ’s body is transfigured; in the other, Christ’s body is disfigured beyond recognition. In one, the disciples wake up to the dazzling brightness of the face of Christ; in the other, people were scorched by the blinding brightness of atomic death. In one, the cloud descended, affirming the belovedness of the Son; in the other, the cloud rose, condemning human life. In one, the disciples longed for it to last; in the other, all longings were reduced to ashes.

How do we keep the memory of these two events on the same day? Perhaps, by keeping these two memories together, one day we will learn to see the affirming radiance of Christ in our brothers and sisters, and thereby learn to love, and not kill.

Blessing
In his transfiguration
Jesus revealed his deepest self.
May we believe in him
as the source of all transfiguration
of ourselves, of our mentality, of this earth.
And may Christ be our strength
to work toward this transfiguration,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in peace
and let your face be bright
with the radiance of Christ’s light. R/ Thanks be to God.