Fr. Michael Williams

St Mark tells us in his gospel, that in the presence of the Apostles Peter, James and John, “Jesus was transfigured; His clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them”. The light that shines through Christ, is His Divine Power, which ordinarily remains out of sight. The Apostles caught a glimpse of it. I have heard people in the hospital talk of seeing a supernatural light, when they are drifting between this world and the next. There is a light, which is God, that for the most part remains hidden from our view in this world, because the Lord wants us to cling to Him through faith, not sight.

In our overly rationalistic society some people may be tempted to think that this event is a myth. In St Peter’s day many people must have thought the same thing, that is why he writes in his letter, “It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge…of Our Lord Jesus Christ”. People who deny that Christ is the Radiant Light of God’s glory are the authors of myths. There are many people today who are inventing myths about Jesus, and making a lot of money in the process. But the truth about Jesus, and who He is, is safeguarded by the Church.

Many people today look on Jesus as a good man, and nothing more. The Church affirms the Divine Nature of the Son of God, which shines through Jesus’ humanity. The Transfiguration shows that Jesus, uniquely, has a Divine and a Human nature. Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God”. Only faith can affirm this.

In his gospel St Mark is affirming that the change which took place in Our Lord’s appearance was not down to human agents, but the result of God’s action. God gave a glimpse of His glory to the Apostles. He did this so as to strengthen the Apostles who, when they came down from the mountain, were on their way to Jerusalem to witness the terrible suffering of Our Lord. By seeing the Glory of God the Apostles would be strengthened for the suffering that was about to follow.

God’s glory can be manifested to us in many different ways. In our own lives there may be times when God gives us a glimpse of His glorious power and love. He gives us these moments to strengthen us as we carry our crosses in this life. Let us thank God for the moments of Grace and Light, that He gives to us, they are “visions of the night”, given to us to strengthen us on our pilgrim way.

Especially God gives us a glimpse of His glory through the sacraments. Joanna will soon receive this light of God’s glory through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. These are given to Joanna, and to all of us, to strengthen us on our pilgrim journey through this life, which will involve suffering along the way. Let’s thank God for the graces He gives us, and those glimpses of glory He gives us, to strengthen us on our pilgrimage of life.