The Mountain of Glory: Witnessing the Divine

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalm 96:1-2,5-6,9, 2 Peter 1:16-19, Mt 17:1-9

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Feast of the Transfiguration, the Church invites us to climb the mountain with Peter, James, and John. We are called to witness a moment of dazzling glory—a glimpse of the divine that will sustain us through the valleys of our lives. This is not a distant event; it is a revelation of who Jesus is and a promise of who we are called to become.

The prophet Daniel gives us a vision of the Ancient of Days, seated on a throne of flames, with thousands upon thousands ministering to Him. Then he sees “one like a Son of Man” coming on the clouds of heaven, who receives dominion, glory, and kingship. This is the heavenly reality—the eternal Kingdom that Jesus will establish. And on the mountain, Peter, James, and John see a glimpse of this glory. Jesus is transfigured before them; His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets, speaking with Jesus about His departure—His exodus—in Jerusalem.

Saint Peter, in his second letter, recalls this experience with vivid detail. He says, “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'” Peter anchors his testimony in what he saw—not in cleverly devised myths, but in the reality of Christ’s glory. He also speaks of the prophetic word as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.

The Transfiguration is a preview of the Resurrection. It is a moment of glory that strengthens the disciples for the scandal of the Cross. Jesus will soon set His face toward Jerusalem, where He will be betrayed, suffer, and die. The glory on the mountain is not an escape from suffering; it is the assurance that suffering is not the final word. The Cross leads to glory, and the glory is already present in the One who walks the path of suffering.

Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the Transfiguration as “a prayer event in which the glory of God shines through the humanity of Jesus.” Pope Francis has said, “The Transfiguration invites us to open our eyes to the presence of God in our midst, to see the glory of the Lord in the faces of the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized.” Saint John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, wrote that the Transfiguration is a “mystery of light” that illuminates the way of the Church.

What does this mean for us? We are called to be witnesses of the glory of Christ. The world is often a “dark place,” as Peter describes it—a place of confusion, suffering, and sin. But we have the prophetic word, the Scriptures, as a lamp shining in the darkness. And we have the Eucharist, where the glory of the Transfigured Lord is present under the humble signs of bread and wine. The Transfiguration is not just a past event; it is a present reality. When we encounter Christ in the Eucharist, we encounter the same glory that Peter, James, and John saw on the mountain.

This feast also reminds us of our own destiny. We are called to be transformed into the image of Christ, to share in His glory. Saint Paul tells us that we are being “transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor 3:18). The Transfiguration is the promise of our own transfiguration—the day when we will be fully conformed to Christ.

This week, let us climb the mountain with Jesus—in prayer, in the Eucharist, in the Scriptures. Let us not be afraid of the Cross, because the Cross leads to glory. And let us listen to the voice of the Father: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” For in listening to Him, we find the strength to face the valleys of life, and in His glory, we find the hope of our own resurrection. Amen.

May God bless you all!

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