April 9
Matthew 17:1-13
The Transfiguration
REFLECTION
The light which shone on Jesus’ face indicates the presence of God. Just as it happened to Moses on the mountain top, so it happened to Jesus. As the prophets met, Moses representing the Law and Elijah all the prophets, we can only imagine what they were discussing.
Moses stood up for the people of Israel kept in slavery and challenged Pharoah. He too had met God face to face where he was instructed to tell the people how to live in harmony. The Law was not intended to be restrictive but rather setting boundaries of how to live without dispute. The purity of the Law given by God was corrupted by humanity over the centuries.
Elijah stood up to the King and Queen who had corrupted the worship of the people of Israel. He called the people to turn from sin and return to a faithful life with God, a restoration of the covenant relationship.
Jesus stood up to the authorities challenging their behaviour and corruption. Their rules were a far cry from the purity of the law. They put a barrier between God and the people. Jesus simplifies the 10 commandments into two. “Love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength. The second is this “You shall love your neighbour as yourself, there is no greater commandment than these.” All the Law and the prophets hang on these two. Maybe this is what they were discussing. Jesus’ ministry was to be based upon love, reconciliation, and restoration. Everyone was to be welcome into God’s kingdom who professed humility, obedience, love, compassion, and selfless service. They had a lot in common to discuss.
Peter was keen to put up three tabernacles for each one of them as a sign of the Messianic age being ushered in by Jesus. The feast of Tabernacles looks back to the time in the wilderness with Moses and forward to a time when the nations will come together.
At this point God once again affirms Jesus as his beloved Son. This statement punctuated the beginning and end of his ministry but this time he told them to listen to Jesus. Jesus once again instructs his disciples not to tell anyone of what they had seen. They were not to reveal it until after his death for to do so would pre-empt the wonder of the resurrection.
Malachi’s prediction of Elijah’s return was fulfilled in John the Baptist who came to restore people to God by preparing their hearts and turning their minds to God in readiness for Jesus. We too can be transformed by God’s presence in our lives. When we are truly aligned with God our faces display a serenity and a glow. Our behaviour alters too.
QUESTIONS
- Have you ever come across someone who displayed a deep spirituality?
- How have you experienced the transformational nature of God in your life? Bring it to mind and relive that experience, recalling your thoughts and feelings at that time.
- Have you witnessed other people being transformed by God? What were the circumstances? How were they affected and those around them?
