A: 18th Sun of OrdTime (6 Aug 2017) - WHAT OUR TRANSFIGURATION IS AND IS NOT - Mt 17:1-9

Our Transfiguration is not a Transformation.

Transformation is a significant change in one’s physical features or appearance. What sticks to our mind after hearing the gospel today is that Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light (17:2). In the same fashion, we have the envisioning of our future transfiguration as something like that. Thus, we begin to alter slowly our outward bearing in order to project an image of holiness. This is commendable but is not significant. After his transfiguration, Jesus returned to his normal earthly self. So are the three disciples who are to face the reality that they are going down the mountain, back to their normal lives (17:9). We are also challenged to accept the physical limitations that we have, realizing that our holiness is to occur on these feeble earthly vessels, i.e., our human bodies.

How easy it is to say that progress in the Philippines can only happen when there are more infrastructural development and metropolitan face-lifts. Build-build-build (3B’s) may be grandiose but I hope value-value-value (3V’s) is never shelved out—specifically the value of human life/rights, the value of democracy, and the value of morality.

Our Transfiguration is not a Transmission.

Transmission is the passing of something to another, as in radio communication, in motor acceleration or disease contamination. By suggesting to make three tents atop the mountain (17:4), Peter is probably thinking that by a prolonged rubbing elbows with the great biblical figures (Jesus, Moses and Elijah), their unprecedented holiness would be rubbed off to him as well. Holiness is not something that is acquired by association nor by affinity. It is not the company that brings about interior change, but one’s own self disposition and will-power.

How easy it is for the government to bow down in submission to global superpowers in the pursuit of achieving our own economic progress. We should be mindful what our forefathers did fight and die for: our national dignity and independent sovereignty.

Our Transfiguration is not a Transfusion.

Transfusion is generally used with blood transference. In the transfiguration scene a voice was heard from the cloud—purportedly from the Father—instructing the disciples: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (17:5). It is also an indication that we are naturally not blood-related to him . . . but by virtue of divine adoption in our baptism, we are made children of God and siblings of Jesus. There was no blood transfusion that happened but a spiritual ascent to our common kinship with him traces the path for our common sanctification.

How easy it is for us to say that the Muslim is not my brother, nor an extremist is not a Filipino, nor a criminal is not my own kind. Sadly, our leaders believe that cutting ties with them comes handily and is expedient for national good. Indeed, racial ties are mental constructs but kindness and openness to everyone is our moral duty as human beings born into one earth.

Our Transfiguration is a Transition.

Transition is the significant midway of the process of changing. Placed at chapter 17 of the Gospel of Matthew (almost at the middle of 28 chapters) and situated at the long journey to Jerusalem, transfiguration is understood by the Synoptic writers as not the end of the thing. Rather, it is the resurrection-ascension that is celebrated as the climax of Christian living. Our journey to holiness should be viewed in the same way: we have along the way small joys, successes and glories, but we should never stop from there; we should continue aiming for the cup of gold waiting for us in heaven.

We as a Filipino people should not think that all problems as a nation will be vanquished easily with a single stroke of a magic wand. Criminality, corruption, and insurgency can never be erased totally by a single administration. The reality is in our lifetime we may never achieve the utopian stage we dream of, but we must painstakingly face the long process of peace-talks, judiciary procedures, statesmanship, consultation, and critical healthy debates to reach it. Thus, we take comfort at Jesus words to his disillusioned disciples: “Rise, and have no fear” (17:7).

- Rex Fortes, CM