When the son of man had risen
JESUS’ Transfiguration is a foretaste, a glimpse, of the fullness of glory that he will experience in his Resurrection. In this world, we often get a peek into “heaven,” “paradise,” or “eternal life” in some extraordinary experiences. When we live in a good and harmonious community, we experience some kind of heaven on earth. When we are in a beautiful garden, we imagine being in paradise and wish we could remain in that place of bliss.
The reality, however, is that, as the Gospel tells us, before Jesus attains the fullness of his glory, he has to go through his passion and death. Still, our occasional glimpses of God’s glory enable us to see beyond our human suffering and nurture the hope of glory that Jesus has implanted in us.
Gospel • MARK 9:2-13
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; then 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. Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2019,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@ stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.