Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Image: Archbishop Jose Gomez
(Franciscan Media) All the Synoptic Gospels tell the story of the Transfiguration: Matthew 17:1-8 Mark 9:2-9 Luke 9:28-36 with remarkable agreement. All three place the event shortly after Peter’s confession of faith, that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus’ first prediction of His passion and death. Peter’s eagerness to erect tents or booths on the spot suggests it occurred during the Jewish week long Fall celebration of Sukkot, celebrated the 15th day of Tishrei (varies in either September or October) just before the arrival of Diaspora.
In spite of the texts agreement, its difficult to reconstruct the Disciples’ experience, according to Scriptural Scholars because the Gospels drew heavily on Old Testament descriptions of the Sinai encounter with God and prophetic visions of the Son of Man. — Certainly Peter, James and John had a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity strong enough to strike fear into their hearts. Such an experience defies description, so they drew on familiar religious language to describe it and certainly Jesus warned them that His glory and His suffering were to be inextricably connected–a theme John highlights throughout his Gospel.
Tradition names Mt. Tabor as the site of the revelation. A Church first raised there in the 4th century was dedicated on the 06 August — A Feast in honor of the Transfiguration was celebrated in the Eastern Church from about that time–Western observances began in some localities about the 8th century.
On 22 July, 1456 Crusaders defeated the Turks at Belgrade, news of this victory reached Rome on the 06 August and Pope Callistus III placed the Feast on the Roman calendar the following year.
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