Homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 2023, Year A
Fr. Charles Irvin
Diocese of Lansing
Homily adapted from Fr. Irvin's reflection on the Transfiguration of Christ, "A Time for Transformation".
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After Adam and Eve sinned, God cursed the serpent and declared that his head would be crushed by a descendant of Eve. It was God’s promise that He would send us a savior, a messiah.
During His Transfiguration, our Lord speaks with Moses and Elijah. Moses, of course, led God’s people out of their slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land, God’s kingdom. Elijah the most beloved of all the Jewish prophets is closely related to the redemption of Israel and to God’s promised Messiah. In this Gospel account we find Jesus about to enter Jerusalem where, in fulfillment of God’s will, He will suffer and die while ushering in God’s heavenly kingdom, a kingdom transcending any earthly kingdom.
Note that Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. God the Father gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, Jesus gave us His Beatitudes on the Mount of Beatitudes, and here on another mountain above our ordinary earth, God declares to Peter, James, and John telling them that the Jesus they knew is indeed the One in whom He is well pleased. St. Matthew recounts:
"After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
'Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'
While he was still speaking, behold,
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.'
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate,
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them,
saying,
'Rise, and do not be afraid.'
And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them,
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them,
'Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.'"
Jesus is the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam and Eve as they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Jesus, in His passion, death, and resurrection, is about to usher in God’s kingdom here on earth. Peter, James, and John will be with Jesus on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus enters into His suffering, passion, and death.
Now, having gone through all of this, allow me to suggest that you and I are called to be Peter, James, and John to those around us. With them you and I, in our baptism and confirmation, are called by God to walk in the shoes of Peter, James, and John not just for our own salvation but for the salvation of those who will know us, observe us, and learn from our example of God’s kingdom. It is through our faith and our love that our relationships with others can carry God’s graces to them. God’s kingdom is realized, made real, in how we relate to those around us.
As priest Jesus, offered His life on the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this one perfect sacrifice of peace. As king He claims dominion over all creation, that He may present to You, His almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace...
Truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love, and peace are not merely noble concepts, they are ways in which we live and act in relationships with those around us. When we pray The Lord’s Prayer we ask that God’s kingdom may come here on earth as it is in heaven not in some remote and distance future but here and now, in the way that we live and act with other people.
Good works flow from faith, faith does not flow from good works. Faith comes first; our relationship with God comes first. Good works then follow. Our good works carry within them our faith. People should be able to see and encounter our faith in our good works. People who have no faith can good things, of course, but we do good things that are infused with our faith in order that others may be touched by the goodness of God.
The Church is concerned with truth and life, holiness, and God’s grace, with justice, love, and peace because Christ is our King, and these things constitute God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
One day you and I will encounter our Father in heaven, the God who created us in love so that we might give Him our love and share our love with those around us. Hopefully on that day we will hear the same words we heard in today’s Gospel account: “You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” “You are my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased.” Hopefully you and I are allowing us to be transformed into the persons He made us to be. Our transformation will be at the same time our transfiguration. Who could ask for anything more?
Jesus is the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam and Eve as they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Jesus, in His passion, death, and resurrection, is about to usher in God’s kingdom here on earth. Peter, James, and John will be with Jesus on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus enters into His suffering, passion, and death.
Now, having gone through all of this, allow me to suggest that you and I are called to be Peter, James, and John to those around us. With them you and I, in our baptism and confirmation, are called by God to walk in the shoes of Peter, James, and John not just for our own salvation but for the salvation of those who will know us, observe us, and learn from our example of God’s kingdom. It is through our faith and our love that our relationships with others can carry God’s graces to them. God’s kingdom is realized, made real, in how we relate to those around us.
As priest Jesus, offered His life on the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this one perfect sacrifice of peace. As king He claims dominion over all creation, that He may present to You, His almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace...
Truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love, and peace are not merely noble concepts, they are ways in which we live and act in relationships with those around us. When we pray The Lord’s Prayer we ask that God’s kingdom may come here on earth as it is in heaven not in some remote and distance future but here and now, in the way that we live and act with other people.
Good works flow from faith, faith does not flow from good works. Faith comes first; our relationship with God comes first. Good works then follow. Our good works carry within them our faith. People should be able to see and encounter our faith in our good works. People who have no faith can good things, of course, but we do good things that are infused with our faith in order that others may be touched by the goodness of God.
The Church is concerned with truth and life, holiness, and God’s grace, with justice, love, and peace because Christ is our King, and these things constitute God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
One day you and I will encounter our Father in heaven, the God who created us in love so that we might give Him our love and share our love with those around us. Hopefully on that day we will hear the same words we heard in today’s Gospel account: “You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” “You are my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased.” Hopefully you and I are allowing us to be transformed into the persons He made us to be. Our transformation will be at the same time our transfiguration. Who could ask for anything more?
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