Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” July-August 2023

Transfiguration of the Lord (f) (A)
proper

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Daniel (Dn 7:9-10, 13-14)
I continued watching, and behold, thrones were placed and an Ancient One took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A stream of fire flowed out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat, and the books were opened. As I watched in the night visions, behold, one like a son of man came with the clouds of heaven; he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him were given dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages served him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed. - The Word of the Lord. 

Commentary on the first reading

The prophecy of Daniel refers to a mysterious “son of man” who is presented to God and receives power over peoples and nations, an eternal power that will never be destroyed. It cannot therefore refer to an ordinary man; there is something more here. In the Old Testament, this son of man also has a collective meaning and is identified with Israel itself: it is the entire nation that, as a whole, receives from God the mission of presenting the divine Law and saving the entire world. But Jesus gives the truest and definitive interpretation when, several times in the Gospel, he identifies himself with the words “Son of Man.” He, then, is that son of man of whom the Scriptures speak! He, therefore, receives eternal power, and his kingdom will never be destroyed. Jesus is thus perfect God («Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?» «I am», cf. Mk 14:61-62) and perfect man (the title “son of man,” which he attributes to himself several times). In the Transfiguration, this divine humanity shines forth in an evident and marvelous way.

SECOND READING

From the second letter of Saint Peter the apostle (2 Pt 1:16-19)
Beloved, we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by following cleverly devised myths, 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 majestic glory: «This is my beloved Son, 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 word as something 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. - The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the second reading

Saint Peter, as the first pope, addresses all the faithful, not one particular Church (the Corinthians, Galatians, or others), and states that he invented nothing because, on Mount Tabor, he had the tremendous surprise of seeing Jesus transfigured and heard the voice of the eternal Father glorifying the Son. Years after this experience, Peter “links” the Father’s voice to the other words of Sacred Scripture, placing them on the same level. The Word of God is always from God, whether it comes from above or is read in the scrolls of the prophet Isaiah, and so it can be heard as light shining in dark places. The dark places are our inner darkness: erroneous thoughts and impressions that settle in our hearts for various reasons. The final image of the morning star is filled with deeply moving poetic inspiration: when dawn overcomes the night, the first star appearing in the sky is called the “morning star.” It is the beacon to follow; it provides direction. In Peter, this expression refers to the word of God, but in Tradition this title is also attributed to the Virgin Mary.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:1-9)
At that time, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them away by themselves to a high mountain. 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: «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». He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud cast its shadow over them. And behold, a voice from the cloud 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 they raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus ordered them: «Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead». - The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

Peter is bold and naive when, at the sight of Moses, who had lived 1,200 years before him, and Elijah, who had come eight centuries earlier, he proposes building three tents. Did he really think they would be useful for a stay by these two holy figures on Mount Tabor? But when the cloud descends upon him and he hears the voice of the eternal Father, he is overcome with terror and throws himself facedown. On the ground, one becomes humble and realizes that our sin still keeps us distant. But God reveals his glory and greatness (the Transfiguration) not so much to frighten us as to console us. «Rise, and do not be afraid», Jesus says, since the disciples no longer dared to raise their eyes to heaven. «True humility», writes the French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj, «does not consist in prostrating oneself; it consists in allowing God to raise us to our feet». The three apostles pass from exaltation to prostration, and finally become humble because they allow God to raise them up. Thus they can resume their journey without their mistaken ideas about the glory of God, because the vision they witnessed will serve - as Peter would later say in his Letter - to give them courage to overcome the trials of life.