+ Since historically this event took place about a week before
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, it was thought of mostly in
terms of a Lenten placement. Jesus would soon be going to the Cross – which was
his one chief goal and mission in life – he looked forward to it, for it would
be for us and for our salvation!
But before he would do that he
thought it necessary to do three things: reinforce his teaching about who he
really was: his true identity; bolster the faith of those who would be leaders
of his new Church that would be launched later on; and lastly to give all
members of his Church from then on the blessed and amazing assurance that His
glory would also be ours, his resurrection would be ours, his radiant glorified
body would be ours one day in the Kingdom.
This is also the second time
that God the Father is actually heard using human words: from a cloud, during those moments when Jesus revealed his radiant
glory in the presence of Peter, James and John, and also Moses and Elijah, the
Father proclaimed: “This is my beloved
Son in whom I am well pleased! Listen to him!” O yes, we must listen to everything Jesus says in his words and
actions! For he is the One True Way, the Truth and Life for which we all yearn!
Then our words and actions must resemble his more and more every day.
This feast was celebrated for
almost the entire first thousand years in the Eastern Church; it was not until
much later, almost the middle of the next millennia that the feast was made
part of the General Roman Calendar, by Pope Callistus III in 1457. And now,
though it is celebrated in August, it is always the right time to reflect on
“the splendor of Mount Tabor” – for it reveals God our Lord, and our future!
The
Lord is King, the Most High over all the earth!
No comments:
Post a Comment