The Fourth Luminous Mystery is the Transfiguration of our Lord.(Matthew 17:1-7). In this mystery, we can underline the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
The mystery of light par excellence is the Transfiguration, traditionally believed to have taken place on Mount Tabor. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to 'listen to him' (cf. Luke 9:35). The three Synoptic Gospels i.e., Matthew, Mark and Luke record this event of Jesus. John did not record this event. Christ’s Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his Passion: the ascent onto the 'high mountain' prepares for the ascent to Calvary. Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what his Body contains and radiates in the sacraments: 'the hope of glory' [CCC 568].
On the mountain (Tabor), three of the disciples (Peter, James and John) saw the glory of God’s Kingdom shining out of Jesus. On the mountain they are overshadowed by God’s holy cloud. On the mountain—in the conversation of the transfigured Jesus with the Law and the Prophets—they realize that the true Feast of Tabernacles has come. On the mountain they learn that Jesus himself is the living Torah, the complete Word of God. On the mountain they see the 'power' (dynamis) of the Kingdom that is coming in Christ.
The transfiguration confirmed that the kingdom of the Messiah would be characterized by glory. In the transfiguration the three selected disciples saw a foretaste of the glory and victory of Jesus. This posture of victory would be even clearer to them after Jesus' resurrection, and it was really only then that the disciples began to put it all together. This scene is also the key to understanding the cross of Jesus and his commitment to it. In Luke's version of the story he tells us that Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about his approaching death in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). It was the first lesson in Jesus' attempt to get them to understand his Messiahship and what it entailed.
In essence, the true meaning of the Transfiguration is to invite us to experience Christ's agony and joy, so that we can live a life transfigured by the Spirit. Which Sacraments transfigure us in this way?
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, each Christian is offered the gifts of the Spirit needed to participate more fully in Christ's suffering and glory. Confirmation offers us a life transfigured by the Spirit. Christ's transfiguration on the mountain was a foreshadowing of the transfiguration of each of his disciples through the Sacramental life of the Church.
In addition, some men are called by the Holy Spirit to join Christ in His agony and His glory in a special way, by receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders. More so than the other Sacraments does this Sacrament offer a transfiguration in the Spirit to those chosen by God. Those who receive Holy Orders are called to become as much like Christ as they can be, to leave behind the world and themselves, and to be transfigured in the Spirit, just as Christ was transfigured on the mountain.
To Be Continued….
Mary, Tower of David, Pray for us!!!
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