The story of the Transfiguration is told by Matthew, Mark and Luke. Whenever an incident from the life of Jesus is told by multiple sources you learn not only what happened originally but how the story shaped the church and what the author wanted us to know about Jesus. There are two differences in Luke’s account of the Transfiguration from that of Matthew and Mark. All three accounts reports that Moses and Elijah appeared but in Luke’s account they appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus. Luke was writing for a non-Jewish audience and by using the word “exodus” he connects the story of Israel with that of Jesus and that of the Church. The people of God throughout the ages are being led. in exodus, into a freer and richer life according to the plan of God. Similarly, in Luke the heavenly voice calls Jesus “chosen,” not “beloved” as in Matthew and Luke. The word chosen emphasizes that it is God’s action, God’s choice that shapes us, not our own efforts.
