“Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them…
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.” From Mark, Chapter 9
Today is the wonderful feast of the Transfiguration of Christ. It is such a beautiful event to commemorate, because its message is one of HOPE! Who couldn’t use that in today’s world?
In this passage, Jesus gives His apostles, Peter, James and John a glimpse of what His resurrected body will look like. He tells them not to reveal what they have seen until after He rises from the dead. The apostles, of course, will not fully understand what they have seen until all is fulfilled.
In my own circle of family and friends, there have been quite a few deaths as of late. The lady in the church office is getting to know me pretty well, as I have been visiting her a lot to have masses said for these loved ones and friends. I feel as though I need to buy sympathy cards by the box! Sad.
Today’s vision in Mark’s gospel assures us that Jesus was indeed triumphant over the grave, and that we will be too! We have nothing to fear in death if we are His followers! This is a wonderful assurance and hope to those who have lost loved ones.
I’m posting some of my favorite photographs of butterflies, as they are symbols of the resurrection. When we make it to heaven, we will be free – perhaps for the first time – We will be whole, and beautiful, just like a butterfly! We will be luminous and united with God, just like Jesus in the Transfiguration!
