Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Reflection: Want to know God? ‘Listen to him’
By SISTER MARY McGLONE
Did you ever wonder how the image of God as an elderly man with white hair got started?
The Book of Daniel has probably inspired lots of artists, the most influential being Michelangelo. Interestingly, while a seeming majority depict God as European, Daniel suggests a more African image. Definitively gendered and ethnocentric religious art can cripple our imaginations.
To be fair, the author of today’s first reading was not trying to say what God looks like in the description of the ancient one. The point of this passage was to assure a persecuted people that God outranked any earthly ruler and that God’s kingdom would eventually triumph over all evil. The focus of this reading is the image of the son of man, leading us to contemplate Christ who used that title for himself (Matthew 16:27-28).
Son of Man is a mysterious term. Jesus used the term in at least three ways: as a simple description of his humanity, in reference to his upcoming passion, and finally anticipating his resurrected, eternal destiny. (For examples, see Matthew 8:20; 11:19; 16:13; 12:32; 17:22; and 17:9 and 25:31.) Son of Man seemed to be Jesus’ preferred title, pointing to all he was and would be. Seeing this title as Jesus’ description of his vocation prepares us to accompany him and the disciples up the mountain of the Transfiguration.
The Transfiguration scene echoes the Hebrew Scriptures at almost every turn. Most obviously, it features Moses, the one to whom God’s law was revealed, and Elijah, the father of the prophets. Additionally, Jesus’ ascent with two disciples evokes the memory of Moses leading his disciples to a mountain encounter with God (Exodus 24:9-11). Finally, and most strikingly, Matthew situates this incident six days after Jesus had spoken about his coming passion.
That seemingly subtle detail situated the Transfiguration on the seventh day, referring to the fulfillment of creation (Matthew 17:1, Genesis 2:1-3). Matthew gives us these details as if they were background music to what is about to happen — even if the disciples weren’t aware of it. (Imagine “How Great Thou Art.”)
Jesus’ disciples were probably not expecting much to happen on that mountain. They had been with Jesus and seen him pray before. But this time was different. Without any preamble, Jesus became transfigured (metamorphized) before them. Matthew tells us that Jesus’ garments were white as light and his face shone like the sun. Symbolically, the light, the first thing God created, indicates that Jesus was clothed in God’s presence. Jesus’ shining face suggests something more.
The Hebrew word for praise is tehillah, which means to shine, indicating that a prayer of praise leads one to reflect the glory of God. Jesus’ shining face revealed God. His prayer made him a mirror of God. Standing with Moses, God’s lawgiver, and Elijah the prophet, Jesus reflected God’s glory. This underlines Matthew’s theology of Jesus as Emmanuel, God in our midst. (See Matthew 1:23 and 28:20.)
Peter embodied the disciples’ response to this epiphany. They were glimpsing something more than they had previously perceived about Jesus and, like people concentrating on cameras at a wedding, their first response was to freeze it in time rather than let it affect them in the moment. Suddenly they were swept beyond their wonder and enveloped in a cloud, a sign that there was more to this moment than they could grasp.
Beyond the symbolism of Moses and Elijah, the mountain and the light, the crux of the experience was the word of God: “This is my beloved Son … listen to him.” That proclamation, echoing what Jesus had heard at his baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), confirmed Jesus as God’s own and voiced the one command necessary: “Listen to him.”
“Listen to him.” That’s all. If we want to know what God is like, listen to him. If we want to hear God’s voice in our own time, if we want to know the will of God, listen to him.
Hidden in that command is the invitation to praise him — for what else would we do if we really recognize him? Then, like Jesus before God, our praise will begin to transform us into his image.
The wonder of the Transfiguration was not a light show but an invitation. If we want to know what God really looks like, we will gaze on those who love God — they come with curly hair and gray buns. They’re old and young, Christian, Muslim, Jew and more. Not even Michelangelo could imagine all the variations in which God chooses to appear among us.
Just listen and our world will be transfigured.
Reading 1
(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
(Psalms 97: 1-2,5-6,9)
R. 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 2
(2 Peter 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
(Matthew 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.”