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 At
one point in His earthly ministry. Our Lord asked His disciples. Who do
men say that the Son of man is (Matt. 16:13)? The disciples gave various
answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.
Then He said to them. But who do you say that I am (Matt. 16:15)? Simon
Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living Cod"
(Matt. 16:16). Shortly after this confession of faith, Jesus went up a
high mountain (according to Church Tradition, Mt. Tabor) to pray, taking
with Him Peter, James and John. And as He was praying, the appearance
of His countenance was altered, and His raiment became dazzling white.
And behold, two men talked with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in
glory and spoke of His departure, which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and those who were with Him were heavy with sleep, and when
they wakened they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. And
as the men were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it
is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for You and one
for Moses and one for Elijah"-not knowing what he said. As he said
this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they
entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This
is My Son, My Beloved; listen to Him!" And when the voice had spoken,
Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those
days anything of what they had seen (Luke 9:29-36).
In the Old Testament, the presence of light and cloud often signified
the Divine Presence: Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud
covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and
the cloud covered it six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses
out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the
Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight
of the people of Israel (Ex. 24:15-17). Likewise, on Mt. Tabor the cloud
signified the Divine Presence - the God-Man Jesus Christ, and the Theophany
here was accompanied by a bright radiance.
Both Moses and Elijah had beheld the presence of God, as the Readings
at the Vespers of the Feast point out, and thus were appropriate witnesses
on Mt. Tabor to Christ's divinity. In addition, as Jesus is the fulfillment
of the Law and the Prophets, how appropriate it was for those who par
excellence represented the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) to be
present.
The Lord took His three closest disciples (Peter, James and John) with
.Him on the mountain for, although God sometimes reveals Himself to sinners
in quite unexpected ways, it is usually those who have followed Him long
and faithfully who are privileged to enter into the joy of the Transfiguration
of the Master.
The bright radiance and shining of the face is also a characteristic of
those closest to God. Such was the case of Moses, who spoke to God/ace
to face: When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tables of
the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did
not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with
God. And when Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, behold, the
skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses
called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned
to him, and Moses talked with them.... And when Moses had finished speaking
with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before
the Lord to speak with Him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and
when he came out, and told the people of Israel what he was commanded,
the people of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face
shone; and Moses would put the veil upon his face again, until he went
in to speak with Him (Ex. 34:29-35). In more recent times this phenomenon
was especially noted in the case of St. Seraphim of Sarov whose face shone
like the brightest sun according to contemporary reports [Conversation
with Motovilov].
In like manner, we all have the opportunity to be transfigured in our
lives and to acquire a close relationship with God. So, too, we all have
the opportunity to manifest the visible signs of those closest to God.
In any case, as St. Paul tells us, when we die our bodies will be transformed
(transfigured, as it were) and we will take on spiritual, radiant bodies.
This aspect is clearly seen in the Transfiguration of Our Lord.
Troparion of the Feast (Tone 7)
Thou wast transfigured on the Mount, O Christ God, revealing Thy glory
to Thy disciples as far as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light
shine upon us sinner! Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Giver of
Light, glory to Thee!
Kontakion of the Feast (Tone 7)
On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, O Christ God, and Thy disciples
beheld Thy glory as far as they could see it; so that when they would
behold Thee crucified, they would understand that Thy suffering was voluntary,
and would proclaim to the world that Thou art truly the Radiance of the
Father! |
