Monday 6 August
(Feast of the Lord) Transfiguration of the Lord • Mark 9:2-10
Peter was a first-hand witness of an event, high up on Mount Tabor, the like of which had never before been seen in the whole history of humankind. Jesus’ human body was transfigured before them. Perhaps limited by a vocabulary which was inadequate to describe the glory the disciples witnessed, Mark simply notes that the Lord’s clothes became ‘dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them’ (v. 3 NIV). As they made their way down the mountain, Jesus forbade the disciples who had witnessed this event from reporting what they had seen until he had ‘risen from the dead’. Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration and reflect as a Church on the meaning of this amazing pre-resurrection unveiling up on the peak of Mount Tabor.
One thing is for sure, nowadays our gaze is too much rooted in this world and we don’t tend to think very much about the life to come. It used to be that some people were considered too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good whereas today we are so earthly minded that we aren’t of any heavenly good! The Transfiguration of Jesus points to the resurrection of our own bodies. Our faith is very much to do with our body, both in this life and the life to come. On earth we are body and soul, and at death our soul is separated from our body. The Church teaches what is clearly a great and profound mystery, that on the Last Day, at the Last Judgement, our body and soul are united once again but in a new, divinized and holy state. It is our destiny to partake forever in the divine nature because we died with Christ in baptism and we will rise with Christ also.
For anyone who has ever prayed over the dead body of a loved one this teaching seems far removed from the loss we mourn. However, faith leads us into the light of hope and in this hope we stand. Today, as we celebrate the Eucharist, marking this wonderful feast, lift up your thoughts to heaven and contemplate the truth that your destiny and future are in heaven where a place has already been prepared for you.
In my Father’s house are many rooms... I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 • Psalm 96(97):1-2, 5-6, 9
Mark 9:2-10
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