Jesus' transformed body becomes a living Meeting Tent (Lk 9:28b-36)
They followed him, watched him praying. Then they saw the splendor of the Lord's glory.
In today's liturgy, we hear a fragment of theGospel of Luke, beginning with thewords: "Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. In theBible, however, at the beginning of thedescription of the Transfiguration, there are words, that were omitted in the translation of the Mass Lectionary: "About eight days after these teachings ...".
The transfiguration of Jesus, which was a surprising revelation of the truth about his divinity, took place in the concrete context of the words previously spoken by him. Everything indicates that the Jewish holiday that was just celebrated was also symbolic.
The Messianic Hope
Eight days earlier, Simon Peter had confessed his faith in Christ. During Jesus' conversation with his disciples, words were uttered that no one had ever dared to utter. "Who am I for you?" Jesus asked then. When the dismayed disciples remained silent, Simon confessed, "The Messiah (Christ) of God."
These words contained all the messianic hope. Hope for the coming of the powerful Son of David, who will defeat enemies and restore greatness to the kingdom of Israel. Hope forthe peace and abundance that the new era inaugurated by God's Messiah will bring. Everyone thought the same when they listened to Peter. However, Jesus admonished them firmly and commanded them not to tell anyone about it.
Moments later, he confessed for the first time something that shocked them. “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by theelders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." (cf. Lk 9:22).
At that moment, all the plans and expectations they had in their hearts crumbled to dust. Thevision of the despised and killed Messiah was terrifying.
They saw the splendor of the Lord's glory
Eight days after these events, he took three of them to the mountain. They followed him, watching him pray. Then they saw the splendor of the Lord's glory.
Jesus' face was radiant. Its radiance was infinitely brighter than that of Moses' illuminated face as he carried the Law to thepeople after his encounter with God in Sinai. His garment has become "white as snow", like the robe of the Eternal, when - in the vision of the prophet Daniel - the Son of Man arrives in the clouds of heaven to take over the Eternal Kingdom.
And here, next to Jesus, Moses himself and the prophet Elijah, talking about his exodos, which will be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Even at this extraordinary moment, they heard of theMaster's death again.
Sukkot: Feast of Tabernacles
The "eighth day" on which the Transfiguration takes place seems to be an allusion to theholiday that is being celebrated. Sukkot, theFeast of Tabernacles, has a distinctly messianic character.
During the feast, people live in tents for seven days (a sukkah - this is a tent, a hut), remembering with joy God's protection during their journey to the Promised Land, when theMost High himself lived with his people, like a pilgrim, in a portable tent. On the eighth day, the joy of the Torah is celebrated, thanking God for the Law received through Moses.
Is that why Peter proposes to put up tents? "He did not know what he was saying," we read in the Gospel. Or maybe - unable to fully comprehend it - he had just uttered a messianic prophecy?
Jesus' "Exodus"
It was believed that in Messianic times therighteous would stay in tents (tabernacles). But now this transformed body of Jesus becomes a living Tent of Meeting, a new Temple of God's presence.
"The Word became flesh and dwelt (literally: pitched a tent) among us," we read in theprologue of John's Gospel. Through his exodos - death and resurrection - the Father's chosen Son introduces us to the eternal dwellings. Our citizenship is in heaven ( cf. Phil 3:20)
Until Tomorrow
fr. george