The Transfiguration
This week we are reading about the Transfiguration. Jesus went up the mountain with Peter, John and James. Jesus was transformed before their eyes into a glorious image in which his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light and He stood between Moses and Elijah. This image was nothing like they had ever seen before. It showed them that Jesus truly was from God. This was an actual demonstration of the fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:13-20).
Let us think about Jesus’ life and the lessons we can learn from him as to how he treated the people around him, who He thought were important, who He prayed for, who he taught and what have we learned? He walked on water and He fed thousands of people with a few fish and loaves of bread.
The disciples had seen Him perform many miracles including raising Lazarus from the dead, making a blind person see, healing the sick. What is so important about the transfiguration? When Peter, James and John headed up that mountain they were used to following Him. They did not expect Him to transform/change right before their eyes. They were not prepared to see Moses and Elijah who had died many years before on either side of Jesus. This was so shocking to Peter he never forgot it, writing about it again later in his life: 2 Peter 1:16-18. Peter did not want them to leave and asked if he could build shelters for them. When the disciples heard God speak, they fell flat on their faces as God said “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
As we think about the Disciples as they saw Jesus transformed we quiet ourselves to pray:
Dear Lord,
Help us to be like the disciples to follow you without question just wanting to spend more time with you. Help us to understand your transfiguration. Help us to know what it means for each of us. To know that you are with us each and everyday no matter how difficult life seems to be. We thank you for giving us the chance to change in our own lives, to improve our relationship with you.
We thank you and say Our Father…
Reflection
Peter and the disciples had travelled and been with Jesus for about 3 years. Now they witnessed something that was completely beyond anything they had experienced with Jesus before. Peter may not have fully understood the transfiguration but he did understand the importance of being in Jesus’ presence. Ask Jesus if there is something in your life that is getting in the way of you just being present to Him? Let us surrender these things to Him in prayer. Let us pray that we are more aware of God’s presence.
Prayer Intentions:
Let us pray for each of us that we feel Jesus’ present in each day. Transform our lives in your image Jesus. Write your love in our hearts and we pray that we can be disciples leading others into your presence. Please God guide us and be with us. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
2 Peter 1:16-18
16 …… we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father* when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.