The Future Glory versus the Present Suffering (Transfiguration of the Lord)
To imagine or think about the BEAUTY OF WHAT LIES AHEAD is enough to help us endure the PAINS of what currently obtains. The JOY of being successful in exams is enough to motivate a student to apply himself or herself to studies, not minding the rigors and the stress. The BEAUTY of promotion in the workplace and the JOY of laughing all the way to the bank at the end of every month are enough to motivate an employee to work harder, despite the pains and difficulties he/she may be going through.
The Transfiguration of Jesus was a very auspicious moment of encounter in which the future leaders of the early Church (Peter, James and John) had a faint idea or a foretaste of the glory that awaits them in the world-to-come. This encounter must have prepared them for the agony in the garden and must have given them strength and courage to go through the grinding and bitter experiences of witnessing to their faith while on earth.
The vision of Daniel in the first reading (Daniel 7:9-10.13-14) must also have been a source of consolation, hope and strength to the persecuted people of God during the time the prophecy was composed; that even as they went through the earthly pains of persecution, an everlasting kingdom awaited them.
We have it on good authority that "NO EYE HAS SEEN, NO EAR HAS HEARD, NEITHER HAS IT FILTERED INTO THE MIND OF MAN, WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM" (1 Cor. 2:9). Yes, we suffer and will continue to suffer while on earth; but it will not just be "suffering-and-suffering" all through and it will not ultimately end in suffering. There is some GLORY that lies ahead. This was the great lesson that the apostles learnt at the event of the Transfiguration. They learnt that there will be a CROWN for every CROSS that is faithfully, joyfully, consistently and purposefully embraced.
When Jesus and those apostles came down from the mountain, they later headed towards Jerusalem, not for tourism or pleasure tour, not to go and enjoy but to suffer. If the apostles had not earlier got a glimpse or an idea of such a future joy and glory, I wonder how they would have responded to the events of the Calvary and to the crosses that they would face in future. And that is why it was VERY NECESSARY that they experienced the Transfiguration event beforehand.
At the height of that glorious experience on the mountain of Transfiguration, the voice of the Father echoed: "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON; LISTEN TO HIM". Again, another lesson for the apostles: they were thus reminded that their entry into that eternal glory will be largely dependent on the fact that they faithfully and consistently did listen to Jesus and abide by His words.
Recalling his personal experience, Peter testified, "WE SAW JESUS IN GLORY ON THE MOUNTAIN. WE HEARD GOD'S VOICE TO IDENTIFY HIM AS HIS SON. HOLD ON TO THIS FAITH. IT WILL BE A LIGHT, A LAMP TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE DARK DAYS" (2 Peter 1:16-19).
The DARK DAYS of suffering are here with us. We must continue to go through those DARK DAYS while on earth. None of us can evade them. But may we ever be strengthened and guided by the LIGHT and BEAUTY of the future glory that awaits us.
The Transfiguration of Jesus was a very auspicious moment of encounter in which the future leaders of the early Church (Peter, James and John) had a faint idea or a foretaste of the glory that awaits them in the world-to-come. This encounter must have prepared them for the agony in the garden and must have given them strength and courage to go through the grinding and bitter experiences of witnessing to their faith while on earth.
The vision of Daniel in the first reading (Daniel 7:9-10.13-14) must also have been a source of consolation, hope and strength to the persecuted people of God during the time the prophecy was composed; that even as they went through the earthly pains of persecution, an everlasting kingdom awaited them.
We have it on good authority that "NO EYE HAS SEEN, NO EAR HAS HEARD, NEITHER HAS IT FILTERED INTO THE MIND OF MAN, WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM" (1 Cor. 2:9). Yes, we suffer and will continue to suffer while on earth; but it will not just be "suffering-and-suffering" all through and it will not ultimately end in suffering. There is some GLORY that lies ahead. This was the great lesson that the apostles learnt at the event of the Transfiguration. They learnt that there will be a CROWN for every CROSS that is faithfully, joyfully, consistently and purposefully embraced.
When Jesus and those apostles came down from the mountain, they later headed towards Jerusalem, not for tourism or pleasure tour, not to go and enjoy but to suffer. If the apostles had not earlier got a glimpse or an idea of such a future joy and glory, I wonder how they would have responded to the events of the Calvary and to the crosses that they would face in future. And that is why it was VERY NECESSARY that they experienced the Transfiguration event beforehand.
At the height of that glorious experience on the mountain of Transfiguration, the voice of the Father echoed: "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON; LISTEN TO HIM". Again, another lesson for the apostles: they were thus reminded that their entry into that eternal glory will be largely dependent on the fact that they faithfully and consistently did listen to Jesus and abide by His words.
Recalling his personal experience, Peter testified, "WE SAW JESUS IN GLORY ON THE MOUNTAIN. WE HEARD GOD'S VOICE TO IDENTIFY HIM AS HIS SON. HOLD ON TO THIS FAITH. IT WILL BE A LIGHT, A LAMP TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE DARK DAYS" (2 Peter 1:16-19).
The DARK DAYS of suffering are here with us. We must continue to go through those DARK DAYS while on earth. None of us can evade them. But may we ever be strengthened and guided by the LIGHT and BEAUTY of the future glory that awaits us.
Good one padre more grace
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Fr Toby. Following your footsteps!
DeleteGood piece🎆. What about those who are very dejected and depressed in this world, what is their source of hope? Is hope about time or attitude? And those who do not know God, what is their hope after death? Those who are also acclaimed occultist, what is their hope after death? What about Hope's which are fleeting in nature?
ReplyDeleteGloria
DeleteGloria, those are very good questions.
DeleteFirst of all, know that the Christian hope is anchored on a fact of faith that all who suffer and die with Christ and for the sake of Christ will live with Him in glory.
If hope is anchored on faith, then it becomes more alive and can now be able to sustain those who BELIEVE. If I hope that I will be somewhere beautiful in future and BELIEVE very strongly that I will be there, I will be strong enough to endure and do all that is required in order to pull through.
Back to your questions.
For the dejected and depressed, their source of hope should be Christ who suffered for no just cause and at last was glorified.
About those who don't know God, I hardly think that their source of hope is God or Christ since they cannot derive their hope from someone they do not know or believe in. Those who don't know God can tell us better what their source of hope is.
As for occultists and what may happen to them after death, only God can knows.
Hopes that are fleeting in nature are fleeting. They are ephemeral. They lead to nowhere.
I hope I have answered your questions.
Thanks.