The Transfiguration
Lk 9,28-36

    The Transfiguration of Jesus enlightens the mystery of our journey towards Easter. It is a journey that transforms man trough Jesus.

     The context of the mountain places us in a over human situation    . Jesus went up to the mountain with three of his disciples – Peter, James and John- to pray. Jesus understands deeper the meaning of his life by praying. The presence of Moses and Elijah explains that Jesus is the servant of God. They talk with him on his exodus that will take place in Jerusalem. It is matter of his death and resurrection. It is a oneness made up by sorrow and glory that will introduce the servant of God into his glory.

    The word exodus recalls the experience of Israel in the desert, because really the people went out from slavery and started his way toward the Promised Land. What Israel lived is now a reality, which is about to be completed in the resurrection of Jesus. He abandons  the slavery to sin and enters into the original dwelling of a man in full communion of life with God.

    Looking at our human reality as being still signed by sins thou walking toward the life, the future glory signalized by Jesus´ light  is really a transfiguration. Darkness becomes light and the word, normally addressed to human beings, is transformed into a dialogue with human beings already in the glory of God. Moses and Elijah´s death was the passage from this world to God. Moses died on the mount Nebo but his body was never found. Elijah was trasferred into heaven by a heavenly car. Their presence and their words indicate that Jesus too is called to enter into God´s glory by his passion.     

    His exaltation is not for him alone. He just came from the Father to be a scrifice of expiation for the sins of all mankind. His trasfiguration and exaltation is the real future of all men.

    According to the gospel of Saint Luke Jesus´ transfiguration comes about, while the disciples fall asleep. They awake up at the final moment but it is enough to make them understand what happened. They are witness too of what God the Father said, declaring Jesus as his beloved Sons  and the only person whom men have to listen to. Then everything goes back to its normal standing and the disciples are still alone with Jesus.

    However the disciples´ spirit is all the more changed. They don’t  understand well what happened but their heart overflows in many questions. Maybe they have talked to their companions to ask them their help to understand the mystery of what they have contemplated. Notwithstanding this particular moment the disciples will leave Jesus alone in his passion. Still again they will be unprepared  to stand by Jesus in his mystery of love and redemption.

    We too are companions of the disciples. We too know Jesus´ personality. Still we do not understand his mystery thou we follow him, because we experience that his word saves us.

    Maybe we lack to pray as Jesus did. For him prayer was the moment of his Transfiguration, when he took part in the glory of God the Father

    Prayer is a fundamental part of the Christian life. It is advisable to pray during the Lent Season according to  the same suggestion of Jesus, who teaches us to pray in our room, separated by all the daily happenings of a normal life. Here the word room stands for our intimacy with God whom we meet  wherever we like to stand at his presence as his children. By praying we find the root of our human being related to God.

    To pray is possible also for us Christians of this generation. By praying we share the same glory of Jesus and are ready to live as faithful servants of God.

Fr. Tiziano
Missionary Priest
at St Ladislav Church in Bratislava   

Bratislava, February 28 2010