It is a bit of an understatement to say there is a lot going on in the account of the Transfiguration. There are tons of things to dig into and so uncover a wealth of meaning: Father, Son and Holy Spirit together on the mountain top; Moses and Elijah representing the Law and Prophets; Peter wanting to build some tents right then and there; and of course, “And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” What is the meaning of this transfiguration? In short, it is the revealing to the disciples of the true nature of Jesus – truly man and truly God.

The Transfiguration reveals the glory of Jesus as the Son of God. And there is more. The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers that the Transfiguration:

• underscores the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and their involvement in the plan of salvation since during the Transfiguration, the voice of the Father is heard, the Son is seen in His glory, and the Holy Spirit appears in the form of a cloud;
• foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection and ascension;
• serves as a confirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah and his fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets;
• prefigures the glorious coming of the Son of Man at the end of time; and
• not only reveals Jesus’ divine glory but also points to the future fulfillment of God’s plan for the salvation of humanity.

Not just God’s plan for the salvation of humanity, but the fulfillment; the fulfillment. Look again to Jesus to see the Divine Nature on display and know that in some mysterious way we are looking at our future. Your future. And this is not just Sunday morning marketing. This is what Scripture has been trying to tell us all along. More subtly in the early books of the Bible but then straight up telling us in 2 Peter 1:3-4: “His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power…so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature.”

There it is, God’s plan for the salvation of humanity: we share in the divine nature. As startling as those words are, it is really just putting into concise language what Scripture has been trying to tell us all along. This is the meaning of the expression “sons and daughters of God.” This is the meaning of Jesus’ frequent declaration that He dwells in us and we in Him; the meaning of He is the branch and we are the vines – that we are members in the Body of Christ. This is the meaning of the words in the Eucharistic prayer: that we become one body, one spirit in Christ.

At first consideration it is easy to think of human and divine natures as contrary, but the Transfiguration reveals that they are kindred. Yes we are but one drop of water and God the great ocean – different but the same water. But the promise is not that we will be absorbed into the ocean, but that we will be taken into the ocean and lifted into union with God – to become holy as God is holy – to be perfect as God is perfect – to yet to remain as we now are: lover and beloved.

Loved before we were knitted in our mother’s womb

Loved when we were prodigal daughters and sons

Loved when we were the lost sheep

Loved when we haven’t given God a second thought

Called to be loved eternally

What would it be like to be loved so deeply, so completely? But how can we get there? “His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power…so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature.”

God has bestowed everything on us; everything we need. He so loved us that he sent his only Son to be with us, love us, show us our future, and lead us home.

The Transfiguration is the scene we are all called to remember as the clarion’s call to who we truly are and are meant to be. The Transfiguration was the reminder the Apostles needed for the tough days in mission. It is the reminder we are offered for the hard days in life when the contrarian part of our human nature wants to pull away from the kindred Divine nature.

Last week the gospel proclaimed Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. This week the gospel bursts from that desolate wilderness to the mountain top to reveal the dazzling white light of the world in the person of Jesus Christ, true man and true God. To reveal God’s hope for us; to show us our future for we who will follow Jesus down that mountain into the world to live a life that is like a dazzling white light for others.

The Transfiguration. A lot for your Lenten reflection. And as a first step on that journey of discovery, come to receive the Eucharist, our hope that we become one body, one spirit in Christ. Come to partake in the divine nature and be transfigured for eternal life.

Amen.

Image credit: Detail of “The Transfiguration of Jesus” by Raphael (1516-1520) | Vatican Museum | PD-US