The Transfiguration of our Lord: Not a Myth but Reality

Reflection on Today's Readings and the Feast of Transfiguration, Thursday 6th August, 2020
Texts: Dan. 7:9-10,13-14; Ps. 97:1-2,5-6,9; 2Pet. 1:16-19; Matt. 17:1b-9
The experience of the Transfiguration was significant and real that St. Peter has to remind us that the message about the revelation of Jesus Christ as God is not a myth. Myth is a kind of story or historical event devised to explain a people's world view, belief, practice or natural phenomenon. The story of the divine revelation in our Lord Jesus Christ is not devised story meant to express a preconceived idea of our Lord Jesus Christ, but a report of what happened in reality and witnessed. St. Peter puts it thus: "Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty". The apostles handed down to us not an opinion but truth, not just belief but knowledge. St. Peter  hinged his conviction of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ on this experience of Transfiguration. What Jesus Christ revealed to Peter, James and John was his glory as the Son of God. Hence, St. Peter says, "For when he received honour and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by majestic Glory, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'".
Peter, James and John were also caught up in the divine revelation experience that they could recognise who the two persons were: Moses and Elijah.  They had the foretaste of heavenly kingdom, revealed in the night vision of today's first reading. It is written thus: "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom". Peter, James and John participated in Christ's glory through their experience of the Transfiguration, but God has deemed it fit that we obtain Christ's glory by living the gospel, the message of the revelation of God's glory in Jesus Christ (2Thes. 2:14). When we live out the gospel we become witnesses of Christ's glory.

Lord Jesus, may we never lose sight of your glory but always live to obtain it. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke