Who has not seen and admired Raphael's great masterplece depicting Christ's transfiguration? Up above we see Christ hovering in glory, lifted from earth and clothed in light, accompanied on either side by his saints. Down below in the same picture we behold the puzzled disciples Peter, James and John, who are yet brimming with joy.
They wake up to reality only when they hear the voice from heaven assuring them that the Christ they were seeing was none other than God's own Beloved Son, whom they should always listen to.
The story of Christ's transfiguration on Mount Tabor, which we read in today's Gospel, had impressed the disciples so much that we find it recounted in all three Synoptics: Matthew, Mark and Luke. It did in fact provide the disciples with the final assurance that Jesus was truly what He had claimed to be, the Son of God.
From this impressive event we can derive at least three different lessons for our own selves, a reference to three different 'transfigurations'. The first one is that Christ's transfiguration on Mount Tabor is a confirmation of his own 'transfiguration' into a true human being.
Jesus never stopped being divine, for he is truly God, one in nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit. And yet, in the Incarnation, he 'transformed' himself into our own humanity to become one of us and so be able to suffer, die and become resurrected for our salvation. As they say, "love either finds equal, or makes equal".
The second idea that comes to mind after reading today's Gospel regards the 'transfiguration' which takes place in each one of us and in every individual who accepts Christ in his life. Through baptism we Christians die for all that is sin and evil and are born again to supernatural life, thanks to the Son of God, who transfigured himself into our own nature to become truly one of us. From poor creatures we become children of God.
Thirdly, the mystery of Christ's transfiguration brings to mind what our task as Christians is. "No man is an island." So the proverb runs. But the opposite is also true for a Christian: our own rebirth as children of God in Baptism is indeed a great privilege, one that is given to us as an entirely free gift. But, to quote another saying, noblesse oblige, we must also say that by becoming Christians we have also assumed the responsibility towards our fellow men.
We too should be channels of divine grace for others, especially for those among whom we live and work. These too are destined to be transformed in Christ, who nonetheless often remains so: unknown and unloved by many of them.
If our behaviour is a true reflection of the 'transfiguration' into Christ that has taken place in us, then the light of God's grace will also shine on those who come into contact with us day in and day out and will gradually bring about their own 'transfiguration' into Christ.
As we all know, the Holy Father has recently expressed his desire that five new 'mysteries' be added to the 15 already existing in the prayer of the Holy Rosary. Besides the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries, other five mysteries of Light should be contemplated, thus including some meditation on some important events of Our Lord's public life.
Here the Pope suggests that the mystery of Christ's Transfiguration be one of the added ones. Another confirmation of how important the event of Jesus' transfiguration on Mount Tabor is for our lives as Christians.