The story of the Transfiguration of Jesus is, well duh, about what happened to Jesus. The glory of God that he possessed was manifest in the presence of Israel (in th persons of Moses and Elijah) and to his followers as represented by Peter, James and John. The divine word pronounced at his baptism, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” is repeated. Jesus in his person is proclaimed as beloved Son of God and at the Transfiguration a small glimpse of what that means is granted. But the Transfiguration is also about what happened to his disciples. They felt initially awe-struck in the presence of so great a mystery but that fascination soon turned to fear. They were encountering something too far beyond them. You can imagine them thinking “let’s go back to fishing.” The divine word appends to the baptismal proclamation a command addressed to the disciples: “Listen to him.” And what is the first thing Jesus tells them that they should listen to? “Rise, and do not be afraid.” They belonged on that mountaintop, they were equpped to handle it. Transfiguration was not beyond them but, in fact, part of their story too. And it is part of our story. “Transfigure us, O Lord,” we sing because we know that God’s grace can take the likes of us and remake us into people of compassion, forgiveness, generosity, love. Like those first disciples our transfiguration into glory happens when we focus on Jesus and not on our fears. When the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone and that made all the difference.
