Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/591

 to you  the  power  and  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ:  but  having been made  eye-witnesses  of  His  majesty. For He  received  from  God the Father  honour  and  glory;  this  voice  coming  down  to  Him  from excellent glory: ‘This  is  My  beloved  Son  in  whom  I have  pleased  Myself. Hear ye  Him  I’  And  this  voice  we  heard  brought  from  heaven, when we  were  with  Him  in  the  holy  mount.”

c) by  our  Lord's  own  prophecy  of  His  Resurrection, when  He  forbade the  apostles  to  tell  what  they  had  seen,  till  after  He  had  risen from  the  dead.

Jesus is  the  Messias  and  Lawgiver  of  the  New  Testament.  The apparition of  Moses  and  Elias  proved  Jesus  to  be  the  Messias  to  whom the law  and  the  prophets  pointed. They paid  homage  to  Him  as  their Lord, Who  had  fulfilled  the  law  and  the  prophets,  and  Who  by  His  impending death  would  release  the  holy  men  of  the  Old  Covenant  from Limbo, and  admit  them  into  heaven. The Voice  of  the  heavenly  Father proclaimed Jesus  to  be  the  Founder  and  Lawgiver  of  the  New  Covenant, the teaching  of  which  all  men  are  bound  to  believe,  and  the  commandments of  which  they  are  bound  to  obey. This narrative,  therefore, reveals Jesus  to  us  as  the  Messias,  and  the  Fulfiller  of  the  law  and  the prophets, the  Divine  Founder  and  Lawgiver  of  the  New  Covenant,  the Redeemer of  mankind  in  all  ages,  and  the  centre  of  the  history  of the  world.

Thabor and  Golgotha.  This  glimpse  of  glory  was  meant  to  make such an  impression  on  the  three  apostles,  as  to  prevent  their  losing courage or  faith  when,  ere  long,  they  saw  their  Lord  in  the  hour  of  His deep abasement,  and  in  that  fearful  state  of  suffering,  when  “there  was no beauty  or  comeliness  in  Him”  (Old  Test.  LXXII). In fact,  the  Transfiguration contrasts  with  the  Crucifixion  in  every  respect. In the  one, we perceive  Christ  in  wondrous  majesty — on  either  side  of  Him  two Saints —, the revelation  of  God,  and  the  disciples  in  rapture. In the other we  see  our  Lord  marred  and  disfigured —on  either  side  of  Him two thieves —, abandoned  by  God,  and  with  Him  His  sorrowing  Mother, the grief-stricken  John,  and  the  weeping  women.

The happiness  of  heaven. If  one  passing  glimpse  of  their  Lord’s glory could  fill  the  apostles  with  such  rapture,  how  unspeakable  must be the  happiness  of  heaven,  where  the  blessed  see  God  face  to  face, and rejoice  in  the  company  of  the  Saints  and  angels. Truly it  will  be good  to  be  there!

While Jesus  was  praying,  He  was  transfigured. Have you  ever  been  able  to  watch  any  one  who  is praying  interiorly  and  with  recollection? You can  see  devotion on his  very  countenance,  and  he  is,  as  it  were,  transfigured. Prayer raises  and  ennobles  a man,  and  makes  him  heavenly