Sunday Sermon - 8.6.23
LATIN MASS: TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
EPISTLE: 2 Peter 1:16 For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of His greatness. 17 For He received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to Him from the excellent glory: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. 18 And this voice we heard brought from Heaven, when we were with Him in the holy mount. 19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts
St. Peter is adamant here that he is not joking, he’s not being symbolic and he’s not overexaggerating. He’s not embellishing for storytelling effect. He’s telling the audience that he means what he is saying in the literal sense of the words. He, along with James and John, did literally see the Transfiguration of Our Lord. They saw Him transform and transfigured to show forth His radiance and glory. He wants everyone to know that he is testifying to the Divinity of Christ. These are not fanciful myths that the Apostles are spreading, but instead real events that actually happened.
Unlike the ancient mythology of the Romans, Greeks, pagans, Hindus, etc, these events actually happened and our faith is based upon truth and reality.
GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh unto Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: 2 And He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun: and His garments became white as snow. 3 And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him. 4 And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him. 6 And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. 8 And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of Man be risen from the dead.
Our Lord is shown here at His Transfiguration, speaking with Moses and Elijah. He shows that He is greater than both of these and that He is the One that God had promised to send to mankind. He is the greatest of prophets and He is the High Priest of the New Covenant. He fulfills the Old Covenant of Moses and transforms it into the New Covenant. He is also a personal God, who is both Our Lord & King, but also comes to us in the complete humility of the form of Bread and Wine. In the Eucharist He comes to us without any fanfare and with no ability to defend Himself if we should abuse Him.
So know that the Eucharist that you are about to receive at Mass, is the same Body and Blood of the radiant and glorified Transfigured Lord that stands on the mountaintop. He is one and the same, so be humble and repentant when you go forward to receive your King.
NOVUS ORDO: FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 7:9 As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took His throne, His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from His presence. A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending Him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of Heaven. And He came to the Ancient One and was presented before Him. 14 To Him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and His Kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.
Daniel was given a vision of the future, when Christ will come in glory and power at the Second Coming, when He administers the Final Judgment of mankind. At that time, all will be revealed. Every action, every word, every thought. Every good deed and every sin will be revealed. Nothing will remain hidden. And all of your family and friends will see it all, along with all of mankind. Every action you take will be exposed and judged. As St. Paul describes in 1 Cor 3, you will be tested through a type of fire (read again the description of the throne above) and your good works will be refined and purified. But your bad works will be burned away and you will suffer loss.
Do not be among the group that sides with the beast. The beast, as seen here and in the book of Revelation, will be thrown into eternal hell along with those who side with him. Go to Confession and get right with God. Side with God and not the beast.
NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to Him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My Son, My Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from Heaven, while we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts.
See my commentary above, but an additional small note about this reading. Note in the last verse where it says Day Star/Morning Star. That word is phósphoros in Greek, which means “light-bringing” or “morning star”. That word translated into Latin is lucifer. Yes, you read that right.
There’s a very common misconception about “lucifer” in the Bible. Many think it is another name for Satan, but it is not. “Lucifer” is a title, not a name. And as with many titles in Scripture, titles can be applied to more than one being. Satan was the highest of all the angels, and he was the “light bringer” angel. So the title of “lucifer” applied to him. But Christ is the actual light, so He is the true “light-bringer”.
So if you see some silly argument that the Catholic Church called Jesus the title of lucifer, now you know the true story of this title in Scripture.
GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is My Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
See commentary above, but also another small tidbit on this passage. When St. Peter speaks about building three booths/dwellings for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, what he is referring to is the Festival of Booths/Tabernacles, which is also referred to as Sukkot. This was the very holy harvest festival celebrated annually in the Old Covenant which recognized how the Lord guided His people through the dessert for forty years during the Exodus (Leviticus 23:42-43). St Peter recognizes that God is going to deliver His people yet again in a new and greater way.
Thank you for the commentaries and additional wisdom. They’re keepers!🙏