Transfiguration of the Lord
Lk 9: 28b-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said.
While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Transformative Encounter
One style of Ignatian prayer involves placing oneself into the scene of a Scripture passage. This description of the transfiguration offers a rich setting and cast of characters for us to pray with. Perhaps we resonate with Peter in his desire to build tents to hold onto this encounter with God in such a tangible way. Or maybe we needed the reminder that Jesus is the Son of God, and his words offer guidance for our lives.
Regardless of where we place ourselves in this reading, we are reminded that it is not just Jesus who was changed on this mountaintop. Peter and John went down the mountain different than they had been on the way up. Every time we encounter Jesus–whether through Scripture, in the Eucharist, through others, etc–we are transformed a bit more into who we are created to be.
—Jesuit Prayer team
Prayer
O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become co-heirs with him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
—Collect prayer from today’s Mass