Preparation for the Light: For Wednesday

St. Matthew 17:1-9 (8/6) Gospel, Feast of the Transfiguration of ourLord Jesus Christ

Preparation for the Light: St. Matthew 17:1-9, especially vs. 2: "...He wastransfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothesbecame as white as the light." By His Transfiguration, the Lord Jesusprepares His People for His Passion, the ineffable wonder of HisResurrection, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, apprehending the Mystery ofHis Incarnation, and His second, glorious coming to judge the living and thedead. The Transfiguration prepares the Faithful for the full Mystery ofChrist, for Truth beyond human comprehension, and for the unfathomable gloryof God. And may it evoke a healthy fear of the Lord.

How can a mortal be "prepared" for a Mystery that is "beyond and above"?God has provided the Transfiguration. The radiant Christ stands as apromise of His utter glory that we shall one day behold . The troparion ofthe Feast adds a caution: "When Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, OChrist our God, Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy Disciples in as far asthey could bear it." That last phrase is an alert: the Lord's glorifiedstate, as the God-Man, overwhelmed the disciples. It would stagger allother humans as well - in heart and mind.

The glistening, whiter-than-white figure of the Incarnate Lord dominates theicon of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor. All else around Him is subdued,bowed in reverence. Observe the disciples prostrate, overwhelmed in holyfear. Jesus' Transfiguration was momentous for those who "left all andfollowed" Him (Lk. 18:28). May the thought that we too shall gaze upon Hisglory bring us down upon our faces, trembling before the majesty of theEternal Himself.

For months the disciples struggled to comprehend the Lord Jesus' teaching,His instruction presented with astonishing power and authority (Mt.7:28,29), and His control of the natural elements: "Who can this be, thateven the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Mt. 8:27). They knew Him as a uniqueMan (Mt. 9:8), for He healed "every sickness and every disease among thepeople" (Mt. 9:35). Speculation became rampant: "Could this be the Son ofDavid?" (Mt. 12:23). Yes, there were some who blindly attributed His powerto evil demons (Mt. 12:24).

Shortly before the events on Mt. Tabor, apart from the crowds, the Lordconfirmed Peter's intuition to the disciples: He is, indeed "the Christ, theSon of the living God" (Mt. 16:16). But He added that "He must go toJerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests andscribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day" (Mt. 16:21). Thismessage confused them. Undoubtedly powerful groups in society were plotting"against Him, how they might destroy Him" (Mt. 12:14). The moment had cometo help the disciples see His Divine nature, and so, in a flash of eternity,He briefly slipped aside the cloak of His Divinity. Thus, theTransfiguration became one more aid in the Disciples' development asApostles. In a dazzling moment, the gracious Lord provided a theophany ofHimself to move three of His key disciples closer to the whole truthconcerning Him, their Master.

Beloved of the Lord, read this account and prostrate yourself before thegleaming Incarnate God. Worship the Holy, Transfigured Christ our God andbe prepared to see Him in His glory. Today, in a burst of uncreated Light,God illumines all who will go up on the mountain with His Son Jesus. Thebrief vision still is overwhelming for the mortal mind; yet the Light ofTabor is enough to prepare us for the "disarray" that comes when wecontemplate the arrest, crucifixion, and death of the Son of God in theflesh - when we see the power of sin. Ah, but be encouraged. Here also isforetaste of the Resurrection!

"Let Thine everlasting Light also enlighten us sinners, O Thou Bestower ofLight."