August 6, 2015

Transfiguration

August 6, 2015:  Transfiguration of the Lord

Find 13 connections
between the outfit and today's feast?
Legend at bottom

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  • Dn 7:9-10, 13-14  The Ancient One took his throne, clothing bright as snow, hair white as wool; myriads attended him.  One like a Son of man came on the clouds and received everlasting dominion and glory; all peoples serve him.
  • Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9  "The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth."  Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.  Mountains melt like wax before him.  All peoples see his glory.
  • 2 Pt 1:16-19  We're eyewitnesses of Christ's majesty.  He received glory from the Father who declared, “This is my Son, my beloved....”  We heard this voice from heaven on the holy mountain.  Be attentive to the reliable prophetic message we have, as to a lamp shining in the dark till the morning star rises in your hearts.
  • Mk 9:2-10  Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a mountain and was transfigured before them; his clothes became dazzling white.  Elijah and Moses appeared and were conversing with him.  Peter, terrified:  “Rabbi, it's good we're here!  Let's make three tents....”  A cloud cast a shadow over them; from it came a voice:  “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”  Suddenly they no longer saw anyone but Jesus with them; he charged them not to tell anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  They kept it to themselves, wondering what rising from the dead meant.
Reflect
      Transfiguration of Christ,
      from iconostasis (12th c.)
      More Transfiguration art
    • One Bread One Body:  "Listen to Him, not him":  Peter said to the transfigured Jesus: "How good it is for us to be here!"  When from the cloud the Father said, "This is My Son, My Beloved.  Listen to Him," was he also saying "Don't listen to what Peter just said but to Jesus, who says, 'It's good for us to get off the mountain and carry the cross..."?
    "Go down to earth to toil, serve, and be scorned and crucified. Life goes down to be killed; Bread goes down to suffer hunger; the Way goes down to be exhausted on his journey; the Spring goes down to suffer thirst; and you refuse to suffer?" (Augustine, Sermo 78, 6: PL 38, 492-493, in Catechism 556)
    • Passionist:  Before Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain, he asked, “Who do people say I am?,” Peter responded, “The Messiah,” and Jesus revealed his upcoming suffering, rejection, and death.  Days later came the Transfiguration, signaling that Moses and Elijah endorse what Jesus is doing and saying.  The cloud represented God's presence; the voice was the Father endorsing the Son.  "Listen to him" even when he says things that you don’t like or understand.  May the Transfiguration encourage us to remain faithful, even when we don’t understand what God is doing....
      Verklärung Christi/ Lotto
    • DailyScripture.net:  God is eager to share his glory with us!  When Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai, his skin shone because he was talking with God; Paul says Moses' face was so bright, the Israelites couldn't look at it.  Jesus was transfigured with lawgiver Moses and prophet Elijah, in the presence of Peter, James, and John.  Jesus went to the mountain knowing betrayal, rejection, and crucifixion await.  The cloud fulfilled the dream that when the Messiah came, the cloud of God's presence would fill the temple.  Jesus shows us the way to the Father's glory is discipleship.
    "When Jesus is transfigured, his face shines that he may be manifested to the children of light who have put off the works of darkness, put on the armor of light, and walk honestly as in the day.  He'll shine on them not simply as the sun, but as the sun of righteousness." (Origen, paraphrased)
    While Jesus was transfigured, the disciples were asleep; we can miss God's glory if we're spiritually asleep, e.g. from an unexamined life, not facing our doubts and questions or Christ's demands....  We're called to be witnesses of Christ's glory and to be changed into his likeness
    • Universalis:  The Transfiguration can sound magical.  There's no reason for it to have happened or for it to be put into the gospel; that's the strength of it as history.   Through it we see that Jesus is a prophet and the one prophesied by them; and that he's God, living in dazzling light.  The true Transfiguration miracle is not the shining face or white garments, but that the rest of the time he hid his glory so well.  See Catholic Encyclopedia.
    Dress legend
    • 'Clouds' tie:  I saw One coming on the clouds of heaven (1st reading); clouds and darkness are round about the Lord (psalm); a cloud cast a shadow over them (gospel)
    • 'Crown' tie bar:  Son of Man received kingship (1st reading); "The Lord is king, Most High over all the earth." (psalm)
    • 'Eyeball' pin:  We had been eyewitnesses of our Lord's majesty (2nd reading)
    • White shirt (and socks :-):  "His clothing was bright as snow" (1st reading); "His clothes became white as light" (gospel)
    • 'Waxy tent-shaped mountain' pin:  "The mountains melt like wax before the Lord" (psalm); Jesus led them up a high mountain (gospel); "I'll make three tents" (gospel)
    • 'Star' pin, 'hearts' suspenders:  "be attentive to the prophetic message... until the morning star rises in your hearts." (2nd reading)
    Special greetings to and prayers for
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