The Transfiguration of the Lord | Praying with St. Josemaria Escriva

The Transfiguration of the Lord was a significant event in the life of Jesus Christ. The presence of the prophets Elijah and Moses affirmed how Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets in the Old Testament. And his divinity was affirmed by God the Father who called him his beloved Son and told the disciples to listen to him.

The Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated on August 6th. In 2002, Pope St. John Paul II included the Transfiguration as one of the five Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.

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Gospel of the Day (USCCB) | Mark 9:2-10

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. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with 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.

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Quotes by St. Josemaria for Prayer and Reflection

• “‘And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light’ (Mt 17:2). Jesus, we want to see you, to speak to you! We want to contemplate you, immersed in the immensity of your beauty, in a contemplation that will never cease! It must be wonderful to see you, Jesus! It must be wonderful to see you and be wounded by your love! And a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him’ (Mt 17:5). Lord, we are ready to heed whatever you want to tell us. Speak to us: we are attentive to your voice. May your words enkindle our will so that we launch out fervently to obey you. Vultum tuum, Domine, requiram (Ps 26:8). Lord, I long to see your face. I like to close my eyes and think that, when God wills, the moment will come when I will be able to see him, not as in a mirror dimly, but …face to face (1 Cor 13:12). Yes, my heart yearns for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? (Ps 41:3).” (Holy Rosary, Luminous Mysteries)
• “It is good that you serve God as a son, without payment, generously. But don’t worry if at times you think of the reward.” (The Way, no. 669)
• “Heaven: ‘the eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that God has prepared for those who love him.’ Don’t these revelations of the Apostle spur you on to fight?” (The Way, no. 751)
• “Do everything unselfishly, for pure Love, as if there were neither reward nor punishment. But in your heart foster the glorious hope of heaven.” (The Way, no. 668)
• “Coming closer to God means being ready to be converted anew, to change direction again, to listen attentively to his inspirations — those holy desires he places in our souls — and to put them into practice.” (The Forge, no. 32)

Cover Image: “Christ Leading the Apostles to Mount Tabor” (1512) by Lorenzo Lotto via WikiArt