Transfiguration of the Lord is the great feast of August, an opportunity to strengthen the faith.

Miracle “Transfiguration” the Savior is the iconographic usually this: Jesus to a high mountain, dressed in bright clothes with Moses and Elijah one side, and on the basis of image three disciples, Peter, James and John, who fell to the ground and “heavy with sleep”.

This icon, which we could call it “classical” respect, of course, the event description made by the Evangelists Matthew and Luke. But there is another representation, very interesting and suggestive: instead of Jesus, Moses and Elijah appear between the cross …. Although this picture is less known, we consider it particularly inspired, expressing symbolic evangelical context in which the miracle occurred.

For if we carefully read those described by the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, before the account of the event itself, we learn, among other things, that the Savior “began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things and be killed … “(Matthew 16, 21).

This foreshadowing of his death he not only saddened the disciples, but they produced and doubts in mind about the authority of their master: therefore, it was possible to die so that anybody, even if they spoke so beautifully and convincingly atâtde and had many miracles before them ….

In addition, doubts and fears disciples were, moreover, fed daily by insinuations scribes and Pharisees, whom Jesus called him lawbreaker, a blasphemer, etc. and so on And the fact that Jesus himself told them that he must go to Jerusalem, where many would suffer and be killed, broke the camel these fears and doubts.

Therefore, in order to dispel these fears, to strengthen them in faith and prepare fully understanding the redemptive death on the cross, Jesus commits “a high mountain” miracle commonly known as the “Transfiguration” by giving them, also a foretaste of the heavenly glory that will be able to share all who follow him.

St. John Chrysostom, in a homily dedicated to this event, says in this regard: “Wanting to entrust the disciples and vision and to show how that glory that is to come – as long as they were able know it – they show it and he reveals here on earth, His disciples not to grieve any of their death or the death of their Lord … “(Matthew Homily LVI).

Entrusting will do, indeed, both by His divine revelation brightness and the testimony of the Father, who spoke of the bright cloud: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; to hear him “(Matthew 17: 5), urging them thus no longer doubt, to obey and follow Him.

Because dispelling doubts to be complete, divine wisdom has ordained in the presence of the three disciples, the revelation of Moses and Elijah.

Let’s notice, our dear, how nothing is accidental in the work of salvation! Why three disciples? Because it was sufficient testimony of two-three ahead of others, according to the Law given by God through Moses (Deuteronomy 17: 6), the limitation invoked by the Savior: “At the mouth of two or three witnesses to settle down all truth” (Matthew 18: 16). That were taken as witnesses (even if Jesus pedagogical reasons, ask them not to tell anyone what he saw until after the resurrection) we confession of Peter, noted in his second epistle: “We are the ones we heard this voice ( Father’s note) come down from heaven when we were with him in the holy mount … “(1, 18).

Of course, now the question arises why these three disciples and not others? We believe that each of the three has “nominated” for reasons you detach from what we know it was representative of each: Peter, because he confessed Christ as the Son of God, but because He advised not leave killed in Jerusalem, not understanding the time the salvific meaning of the Cross; John, for his special attachment to the Saviour (remember it will be one of the disciples who stood by the Cross of Calvary in the dramatic moments); Jacob, because confessor will be the first bishop of Jerusalem martyred by Herod in the year 62.

It is natural to wonder also why Moses and Elijah appeared to talk with the Savior? The answer comes naturally, if we consider what is these two holy dispensation of salvation: God gave the law to Moses and Elijah is an outstanding representative of the prophets. So the Law and the Prophets! The scribes and Pharisees Jesus often denouncing that “violates the law and the prophets” and slipping their disciples suspicion that it is. Well, by the revelation of Moses and Elijah, who spoke with Jesus, the disciples will entrust the charge is false and that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Law and the Prophets.

It is revealing to note and what they talk about two Savior. This detail, particularly precious, noted by the evangelist Luke: “… Moses and Elijah showing himself in glory, spoke of his that have to plinească in Jerusalem …” (9, 31). “On his end …”, ie the Cross!

Here, therefore, it appears again in the center of Cross miracle! We consider, therefore, that the representation of the holy event by Cross located between Moses and Elijah, even if it is not recognized as an icon canonical deserves attention, especially for that draw attention to the main motivations of committing miracle on Mount Tabor: prepare the disciples for the act of crucifixion.

For Cross is not just death, sacrifice and pain, but the scale luminous heavenly kingdom. Therefore the Lord’s gift was not only stopped the conversation about the passions. Li was offered the disciples, also a view of shining Resurrection, the pledge of resurrection and eternal glory in the beauty of their life.

Although Peter even here showed frightened by the specter of death of the Lord in Jerusalem (therefore proposed the creation of three huts …. In other words, “Do not go to Jerusalem, to kill you, stay here .. . “), he noticed, even partially and rest, peace, tranquility and spiritual joy springing from Tabor light of the resurrection, that makes you exclaim” how good it is here. “

The three disciples and through them to all other (and us all), revealed thus the possibility of change: as the body of Jesus, material body like ours, appeared changed, so the matter whole (man and nature) will be transfigured, by divine grace.

This change must be understood not just the end of time, but every day of our lives.

Here today, our beloved, we are called to climb Tabor is spiritual, holy Church, to banish fear and doubts, seeing Him with the eyes of faith on Jesus in glory, to always be open to changes for the better, preparatory to our great transfiguration . For, as the inspired word of the Apostle Paul, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all change suddenly, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet by then. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be that being clothed with the imperishable, and to being this mortal must put on immortality … “(I Cor. 15, 51-53).

The same Apostle gives the same letter, an advice which we consider as the best conclusion teachings on this great Feast of the Transfiguration: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord “(15, 58). Amen.

source: doxologia.ro