Today we observe the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. This feast gives us a glimpse into our humanity and how we are to more perfectly reflect God’s glory. As Anastasius of Sinai sums it up, he “will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead.”
Despite the sin that creeps into our life we are called to embrace this reality. Humanity has fallen, but through Christ we have come to be healed, perfected, and clothed in the glory of God. Our celebration of the Lord’s Transfiguration points the way towards what God desires to be worked within us.
As we are instructed in 2 Corinthians: “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”
This concept of being veiled should remind us of Moses. Moses who went up to receive the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai and to bring the Israelites into covenant with God as His chosen people. From Exodus we are told, “As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he spoke with the Lord.” Due to this we are further told, “When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses entered the presence of the Lord to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out again.”
At the Transfiguration of the Lord we are told, “And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun.” What takes place within the face of Jesus is found to be far superior then what took place within the face of Moses. This serves as an instruction on the Lord’s divinity and that He was not only fully human, but also fully divine. Jesus radiates this divine glory to the point that his garments also appear to be as white as light.
In the Church we are surrounded by the use of veils. We notice that the tabernacle is veiled and that the chalice is veiled. These veils serve as a reminder of the sacred for that which is sacred has been veiled from our sight. In the Book of Exodus a veil is placed over the tent which holds the ark of the covenant which is literally the presence of God. This veil would continue to veil the sacred in the Temple in Jerusalem. As was stated by Saint Thomas Aquinas: “We cannot be enlightened by the divine ray except they be hidden within the covering of many sacred veils.”
It is is Jesus who gives a glimpse of what dwells behind this veil to Peter, James, and John upon Mount Tabor at the transfiguration. It was here that what was veiled came to be known and looked upon. At this they fell prostrate and the Lord touched them saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” They were given this glimpse into Heavenly glory in order that they would continue to run the race towards Everlasting Life despite all that would befall them in this life especially the coming of the Lord’s Passion. As this veil is slightly lifted giving us a glimpse into the sacred, may we place our trust in Him and be not afraid.
