A TRANSFIGURED YOU

 
HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD, YEAR A

Rev. Fr.  Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Owing to the current political situation of Nigeria, the feast of transfiguration reminds me of the famous and ruling political party today, the All Progressives Congress. The APC political party formed in 2013 has been well known for their change mantra. During the previous election in 2015, we experienced how this mantra was on the lips of almost everyone to such an extent that whenever and wherever APC is mentioned, what follows is the word change. The word 'change' became almost synonymous with the APC. The party was convinced that they were coming in to bring changes to the Nigerian governance and structure; they desired some change in the figure of Nigeria. This mantra became one of the leverages that guaranteed their success to the presidency. In the desire for positive change is the sowing of the seed of success. When you live a life of desirous change (transformation, transfiguration, metamorphoses), you plan to succeed. From the mundane experience of the APC and their success during that mundane election, we can imagine how successful we can be during the arcane (heavenly) election if we sound the positive change mantra in our spiritual lives. Can we really allow ourselves to experience and undergo some transfiguration?

THE PREREQUISITES: What can I do so as to be transfigured?

The story of the transfiguration of Christ is a household story for Christians. Christ took Peter, James and John up to the mountain, and there was transfigured. The apostles witnessed the transfiguration of Christ, but little did they know that it was a revelation of the glory that follows suffering, the dazzling and shiny nature acquired by those who undergo the sufferings of the cross of Christ. Thus the first prerequisite of transfiguration is to have the knowledge, endurance and confidence that transfiguration entails and involves suffering; that type of suffering that goes with and ends in glory.  and we all with unveiled faces reflect the glory of the Lord and are being transformed from glory to glory, which comes from the Lord who is Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).

To be transfigured, we must follow Jesus. We must walk with him. We must climb the mountain stairs with him. We must exhibit total surrender. Our sense of the glory of God depends also on our doing the will of God in an intensive session of prayer and devotion. We then are to be transformed into the image of Christ; transformed in all his moral excellence. However, we must learn that the change is brought about by the Lord himself as we seek his face in prayer. When you distance yourself from the pattern of this world, you become transformed by the renewing of your mind, and then you are able to approve of what God’s will is –his good, pleasing, and perfect will (Rom. 12:2).

When we follow Christ, we see his face shone like the sun, and his garments as white as light. This is the transfiguration qua tale. Christ changed completely, and became transformed. This description aligns with the vision of Daniel in the First Reading (Dan. 7:9-10.13-14). This is actually a prefiguration of the transfiguration experience. Christ wore glory. John described this glory as the sun shining in all its brilliance (Rev. 1:16). Transfiguration leads us to beauty; we shine in our souls. Thus, to be beautiful in our souls, we must behold the transfigured Jesus. Our watchword becomes: transformation by beholding.

EXQUISITENESS OF THE TRANSFIGURATION: reacting to the extreme beauty of the transfiguration experience.

Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. And Peter spoke about the building of three tents. Then a voice from the overshadowed crowd spoke up. Jesus consoled his apostles who buried their heads in fear, as he enjoined them to discretion. The appearance of Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophet) confirms the Messiahship of Christ and the fulfilment of the law and the prophets in Christ. To be transfigured, we must think, talk, and act through Christ for he alone is the messiah.

The apostles experienced God’s glory. They did not want to leave God’s presence again. The request of Peter is a request that hopes to extend their stay on the mountain. He now wanted to camp further therein; to continue to enjoy the peaceful, secured and perfect glory of the transfiguration. Peter however surrendered his will to God by adding if you wish. This tells us that we must surrender our human wills to God who knows the best at each moment of our earthly live.

The bright cloud was the shekinah of God’s presence. This crowd replaces the dark cloud of Exodus 19:18.20-21 that threatened Moses during the giving of the Old Covenant. This same cloud guided the Israelites out of Egypt and rested upon the tabernacle in Exodus 40:34-38. The shekinah glory is a light so glorious and brilliant that there is no need for a sun. It radiates splendour (cf. Rev. 21:11.23). Peter calls it majestic glory (cf. Second Reading 2 Pet. 1:16-19). Our transfiguration is a clothing ceremony. In it, we are clothed with the shekinah glory; the glory that dazzles evil. The voice confirms the Messiahship and the identity of Jesus, the one beloved son of God.

There was an intense fear because of the glorious experience. Jesus now stood alone. The representatives of the Old law and prophecies have faded away. The bondage, darkness and terror of the law were now gone. Christ replaces them and has stood ever since in the law’s place. The New covenant would soon be effective with its light, love and liberty. Our transfiguration is an experience of change; a change that moves us out of darkness, bondage, and terror and launches us into light, liberty and love.

Finally, it is true that the feast today talks of the transfiguration of the Lord, but we must not sidetrack the fact that Jesus was transfigured that we too might be transfigured. He took us to the mountain that we may take others up to the mountain of transfiguration. He showed us his transfigured identity that we too might show him and our neighbours our transfigured identity. He let us see the prophet and the lawyer that we too might see him as the fulfilment of them. He let us hear the voice of the father that we too might speak and be heard by the father. He let us to be awed for some moments that we may not trivialize his glory. He calms our fears that we might be strong enough to calm the fears of others. Having seen and witnessed the transfiguration of our Lord, will you too permit Jesus to witness your own transfiguration? Do enjoy your transfiguration week. God bless you.