At Jesus' Transfiguration, the Father's voice from the cloud proclaimed: "This is My Son, My Beloved. Listen to Him" (Mk 9:7). This same proclamation is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (Mt 17:5; Lk 9:35). In 2nd Peter, however, the words of the Father are quoted differently. "That unique declaration came to Him out of the majestic splendor: 'This is My beloved Son, on Whom My favor rests' " (2 Pt 1:17). The writer of 2 Peter omits the "punch line" of the Transfiguration. He leaves out the concluding sentence: "Listen to Him."

We have a tendency to forget the main point of the Transfiguration and of life. We tend to forget the command to listen to Jesus. The Transfiguration is an awesome attempt by God the Father to correct us. Unfortunately, it didn't work right away for Peter, John, and James. They didn't listen to Jesus' messages about the cross any better after the Transfiguration than before.

The last attempt of the Father, Son, and Spirit to get us to listen to Jesus took place at Pentecost. This attempt succeeded. Jesus' disciples finally heard the message of the cross. They became witnesses for Jesus even at the cost of suffering, persecution, and death. May this feast of the Transfiguration be combined with a new Pentecost so that we may listen to, love, and die for Jesus.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 30, 2012

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