He Entrusts Us
Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been 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,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Pt 1:16-19)
Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain where he was transfigured before their eyes. For a time, they did not see the “human” Jesus, they saw the divine Jesus. In the midst of his glory, they also saw Moses and Elijah, prophets who had long been dead, standing and speaking with Jesus.
As if that were not enough to terrify them, they heard the voice of God Himself proclaim, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When they heard the voice of God, they fell to the ground and hid their eyes.
As they looked up again, only Jesus was there. Moses and Elijah were gone and Jesus no longer appeared in His glory.
Jesus admonished them not to speak of the scene to anyone until He had been raised from the dead.
Apparently, the three “got it”. Because in today’s second reading, Peter told the crowd about what had happened to him on the mountain and about the significance of that moment. Peter realized that he had been entrusted with a great message “altogether reliable”.
What better endorsement could there be than to see Moses and Elijah and to hear the voice of God?!
We may not hear the voice of God booming and we may not see the transfigured Lord. However, by virtue of our baptism and our being raised in the faith, we, too, have been entrusted with a prophetic message.
Jesus depends upon us as much as He depended upon His followers back then.
Let’s try not to disappoint Him.
FAITH ACTION: Be a part of proclaiming the prophetic message today. Share with someone your faith in God.