About eight days after Jesus had foretold his death and resurrection, Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Reflection
Wouldn’t you just love to know God with your whole being? To
know God the way you know the sound of a good friend’s footsteps? or the taste
of chocolate? or the unspeakable beauty of a spectacular sunset. Wouldn’t you
just love to know God the way you know tenderness when watching a young child
sleep, the way you know wonder when listening to great music or inspiring
words? Wouldn’t you love to know the grandeur of God the way you know the
majesty of jagged mountains piercing cobalt skies while waves of wind and dust
churn across the desert? Wouldn’t you just love to know God with your whole
being?
I believe this is the way Jesus knew God – with his whole
being. I believe Jesus desired to know and be in relationship with God with all of his heart, with all of his soul
with all of his strength and with all of his mind. I believe it was Jesus’ desire for God
that compelled him to go out of his way, to climb the mountain and reach out to
God in prayer with his whole being. And
Jesus was transfigured.
Jesus brought his whole being into relationship with God and
his whole being was affected, so much so that even his clothes, that is to say,
even the way he was perceived in the world, radiated his intimate knowledge of
God. Jesus was fully, lucidly, beyond
any doubt in relationship with God.
I believe this is where all of us are going. We are all going to be transfigured. We are all moving toward the full and intimate knowledge of God that will transform us all the way in and all the way out. We will be changed and it will be noticeable – like dazzling white clothes. And if you happen to be wondering, “How?” A lawyer who was testing Jesus actually hasd the answer, “You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind”….And Jesus said to him, “You have given the right answer, do this and you will live.””(Luke 10.27-28)
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