Choose a topic from Part 3a:
1. In St. Matthew's Gospel (chap. 17) we read that ourLord was transfigured in the sight of his apostles Peter, James,and John. "And he was transfigured before them. And his facedid shine as the sun, and his garments became white as snow."Thus the three apostles had a glimpse of such glory as would cometo them after their life of fidelity to God, through hardships andtrials. Our Lord had told the apostles of his coming Passion beforehe gave them this encouraging experience of seeing theTransfiguration. Christ as man had the glory of the beatific visionfrom the first instant of his existence in Mary's womb. But hewas not to have the "overflow of heavenly glory into hisbody" until his Resurrection from the dead.
2. In the Transfiguration, our Lord showed by way ofanticipation the clarity of his bodily glory. This was theessential clarity of true heavenly glory, here manifested in a newmode, that is, as miraculously produced. In the glory following theResurrection, the clarity of the glorified body is not a miracle;it belongs to the glorified body as such.
3. Our Lord chose as witnesses to the Transfiguration, notonly the three apostles, but Moses and Elias who appearedvisibly.
4. As at the baptism of Christ by St. John, so here on themountain of Transfiguration, the voice of God the Father proclaimedthe divine Sonship of Christ. The baptism of Christ by Johnforetold the true baptism which brings grace; the Transfigurationforetold thetriumph of grace in glory. Both grace and gloryare available to man, but only through the Son of God who becameman. Hence it is notably suitable that the divinity of Christshould be divinely proclaimed on these two occasions: the baptismby John, and the Transfiguration on the mount.
"It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come."
Thomas á Kempis
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"The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you."
Thomas á Kempis
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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.
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Thomas á Kempis
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