Petition: Help me to obey you in all things.

Gospel Passage: Matthew 17: 1 - 9  

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, "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, 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, "Don not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.

Introductory Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, with the assistance of your grace, help me to transform myself into your image. Then, becoming ever more like you, allow me to transmit you to others.

1. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

The human heart cannot love what it does not know. The person born blind cannot truly value color. Yet were that person to receive the gift of sight, he would probably appreciate the splendor of light more than a person who could always see.  It would also be true that if the danger to go blind again were to return, the struggle against such a possibility would be all the more passionate. The greater the love is the firmer ones determination to obtain that which is loved. Christ was helping his apostles to fall in love.  Seeing Christ as the light, he was preparing them for the darkness of the Passion. 

However, the Transfiguration does more than just confirm the divinity of Christ. It contains a promise for all humanity redeemed by his passion: The Transfiguration gives us a foretaste of Christ's glorious coming, when he will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 556).  Therefore, when we suffer we can look towards Christ and remember that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel.

2. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.  Listen to him.

If Christ were simply a wise man, an enlightened one, then there wouldnt be sufficient reason to fulfill that which he demands, for example: "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). However, if he is the beloved Son of the Father, then obedience is the only legitimate response.  As one atheist rightly put it:  If there is a God, then I can no longer do whatever I want.

3. Rise and do not be afraid.

Though following Christ definitely entails an element of obedience, it is to be done with the freedom of the children of God (cfr. Romans 8:21). It is sin that enslaves. Ask a drug addict if he is really free! Only in obeying Christ can we experience the true freedom, which allows us to choose the good. (cfr Splendor of Truth, n. 87)

Yet if we are sincere, it is often frightening to follow Christ because we know that it will be accompanied by suffering: Whoever does not carry his won cross and come after me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27). This is why Christ, and his vicar, have often repeated the exhortation: Be not afraid. The Transfiguration is an indication that there is light, peace and joy beyond Calvary, and that should be encouraging.

Conversation: Dear Lord, when circumstances and interior difficulties darken the horizon, be my light, my comfort and my point of reference.  Grant me the grace to obey you motivated out of love.

Questionnaire:

1. Do I trust in Gods grace when things seem most difficult, when his assistance is less apparent? How do I show this filial trust? Does this trust push me to become more like Christ?

2. How do I pray? Do I treat prayer as that opportunity to be with Christ? Do I get distracted? Do I merely seek consolation in my prayer or do I seek Gods will in my life?

3. How strong is my faith? Does my faith allow me to see Christ in the ordinary events of daily life?