"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Mt 17: 1-9)

Today's Gospel, Matthew 17: 1-9, relates the story of the Transfiguration. "Jesus took Peter, James and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them;  his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him."  Peter says to the Lord: "'Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' While he was still speaking, behold, a  bright cloud cast a shadow over them,then from the cloud came a voice that said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

Scripture scholars tells us that Jesus, Moses and Elijah were talking about Jesus' impending death. Jesus was being prepared for His crucifixion and passion. Was that "the shadow" that broke up the brightness of the transfiguration?  Not only was Jesus being prepared for going up to Jerusalem, so, too, I believe, were Peter, James and John, by being told: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."  None of us will escape going to our "Jerusalems," our "crucifixions and death but, like for Jesus, death will not have a last word but is only the gateway to eternal life!  Like with Peter, James and John, we, too, need to keep our eyes on Jesus, walk up the "mountain" with Jesus and "listen to him."

Peter was not particularly into listening to Jesus, however. Here on this mountaintop, Peter wanted to "make three tents": one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!  Peter saw himself as the one in control. But no way was Peter in charge. It was not God's plan that Peter stay on the mountaintop. He had to come down to real life, face the turmoil within Israel, the threats against his master's life, and Jesus' determination to go to Jerusalem, where He knew the leaders of the nation were on the lookout for Him. They wanted Jesus put to death, as they were jealous of Him and perceived Him as a threat to their power. Jesus knew that but that knowledge did not deter Him from going to the city to celebrate the Passover, a holy feast for the Jews, remembering the night death passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and Moses led them through the Red Sea and through the desert to the Promised Land. The Passover Jesus would celebrate was His triumph over death via His resurrection on Easter morn and our future passing through death via our resurrection into heaven, as we, too, are God's beloved sons and daughters, in whom God is well pleased.