This Sunday's readings focus on the Transfiguration. the gospel reading gives us Mark's version of the story, while the second reading, from 2Peter, makes Peter's claim to have been among "eyewitnesses of his majesty" when they accompanied him on the "holy mountain." The first reading ties in as well, giving us a picture of a fire-enthroned Ancient One giving to "one like a Son of man" "dominion, glory, and kingship" over "all peoples, nations, and languages."
The clarity of a message of the royal majesty of Christ is not easy to miss. But more than mere glory, Christ is given the title of "Beloved Son" with whom the Father is "well pleased." The accustomed paternal air of sanction is rather dull to Christian ears, but is unmistakable. God is pleased with Jesus. But why?
The last lines of the gospel reading tell us. "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." The majesty of the moment would only make sense in context of the Resurrection. And that would be obtained only be enduring the Cross.
Most poignantly, we are told of a manner of torment that was worse than anything Rome could device: "So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant." Having been granted access to the divine dimension of glory, the three witnesses to the Transfiguration were given a key that could open no door that they knew of, but that would be held onto, almost forgotten, through suffering, defeat, humiliation and despair. It was a key that would one unlock mysteries as yet unfathomable. For only after the Resurrection -- when "rising from the dead" meant something: the heavenly manifestation of the Beloved Son, acclaimed from the highest reaches of Heaven -- would make perfect sense.
We walk in darkness, doubt and fear in so many ways. We sometimes walk alone, misunderstood and lonely. We ache for those nearest to us to reach out, to share our troubles, just to listen. Often, we are disappointed in what our families, friends and communities can do for us. We make the lonely walk through illness and death with no one to provide even a touch or a word that will soothe our anguished souls.
The mystery of the Transfiguration shows that Christ, too, walked the lonely road of despair. Even after a revelation of his divinity, he faced the daunting task of continued obedience to the Father, even unto the Cross. Our lives our troubled sometimes and we feel alone. May we, also beloved sons and daughters of the Father, learn to walk the path of Christ, encouraged that in spite of the sorrows of the present, we will rise to new life. Amen
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Image from http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Father-and-Son-Posters_i411005_.htm
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