The Transfiguration | Friday 6 August 2021

Today is Friday the 6 August the feast of The Transfiguration. 

The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing Assumpsit Jesus: ‘Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, and he was transfigured in front of them.’

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Mark 9:2-10

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

Peter, James and John see Jesus in a new way.  They see his glory – in other words they see in Jesus the splendour of God.  For a moment, imagine yourself with them on that mountain and sense what it must it have been like. Moses and Elijah are there with Jesus. 

They represent all that God has done, through history, to show his great love for his people.  In what way do you need to know God’s love, today?

As you listen again to the reading, keep in mind what Peter says, ‘it is good for us to be here’.  How might it be good for you to be present to this scene?

At the end of the reading, the disciples find themselves alone with Jesus.  You too can be with him in the same way, now. What do you want to say to him?  What might he want to say to you?    

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.