Hi everyone. Welcome again to the Daily gospel exegesis podcast, created by The Logical Bible study Ministry. Thanks for listening as always, our goal in this podcast is to help you understand. The literal sense of scripture from a Catholic perspective, and our reading for today is Mark chapter 9 verses 2 to 10. So, here's the reading, you would hear it today's mass, Jesus Took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves.
They're in their presence. Here was transfigured, his clothes became dazzling, Lee White whiter than any Earthly bleacher could make them Elijah appeared to them with Moses and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus Rabbi. He said it is wonderful for us to be here. So let us make three tents one for you. One for Moses and one for Elijah. He did not know what to say. They were so frightened. And a cloud came covering them in Shadow and there came a voice
from the cloud. This is my son. The Beloved listen to him. Then suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. As they came down from the mountain, he warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the son of man had risen from the dead. They observe the warning Faithfully though among themselves. They discussed what rising from the dead could mean?
So that's our text for today and we're going to see here the Transfiguration the famous event. A lot of people treat this as a bit of an awkward event because we're not entirely sure what to do with it, and that's makes sense. Because in a lot of ways, what happens here at the Transfiguration is a mystery? There's some aspects of it, that we don't fully understand. But what's interesting about this reading is the so much
packed in here. So many references to the Old Testament and so many different things going on. Theologically and really, it's one of those. That you could keep Mining and keep learning new things all the time. So we're just going to try and touch on each of the main areas. So, what's the context here? Jesus has been doing Ministry all around Galilee and just prior to, this has announced to his Apostles that he's going to
suffer. And also they should expect to suffer if they want to inherit eternal life. So, keep that context in mind. So we're now going to begin what a lot of Scholars will consider to be the second. Half of Mark's gospel and there's some interesting parallels here between the baptism, which Begins the first half of Mark's gospel and then the Transfiguration which Begins the second half and we'll see those parallels as we go.
So verse 2 now, inverse to an hour lectionary, it's actually taken out a phrase here because if they read this phrase, it may not make sense to start with this phrase. But if you look at your Bible, verse 2 starts with after six days. So this is six days after Jesus has been speaking to The apostles about suffering which is what's the previous thing that happened in the gospel of Mark? So six days later.
Now the idea of six days some Scholars think there might be an illusion here to the theophany of Mount Sinai. So you remember the story in the book of Exodus, Moses goes up the mountain and The Cloud of God's presence covers Mount Sinai for six days before God spoke to Moses.
And you can see that in Exodus chapter 24 and that's interesting because Mark doesn't usually tell us how many Days, there are between events and what the exact chronology is of things but here he says, after six days, so he probably is trying to draw his readers to a parallel between Moses and what happens here at the Transfiguration. So Jesus Took with him Peter and James and John.
So he takes his three innermost disciples, this is like his inner circle of disciples so there's some things and some events that he only allows the inner circle of disciples to see and there's something See only trusts them with. So from this, we learn, there's a hierarchy even within the apostles. So these three men, Peter James, and John go on to become very prominent leaders in the church.
So, it seems that Jesus is deliberately bringing these three because he wants them to witness this because they are going to strengthen the other Apostles. And then, it's going to inform the way they lead the church in the future. So he leads them up a high mountain in scripture. People go to mountains, to be closer to heaven and to be Closer to God and this event, the fact that they go up a mountain it seems to deliberately mirror the way that Moses ascended Mount Sinai.
So you can see this is like the Mount Sinai event of the New Covenant. The mountain, they go up, we're not sure it's not. The name is a given to us most Scholars. Have thought it might be Mount table which are certainly in the area although it could also be Mount Hermon which is in the same area of Galilee as well. So the text says, they wanted to be alone by themselves. So, Jesus, specifically wants to be away from the crowds. He only wants his three innermost Apostles to see this.
He doesn't want the crowds to see what happens at the top of the mountain. So we're actually quite privileged in what we learn here, because even Most of the disciples did not see what is recounted in today's Gospel. And then Mark says, they're in their presence, he was
transfigured. Now, the word transfigured, it literally means his appearance changed now Matthews version actually adds a comment here Matthews version of the Transfiguration adds the his face Shone like the Sun, so he became dazzlingly White. And then in verse 3, it says his clothes became dazzling, Lee white, or another translation is his garments became Glistening. Now in scripture clothing is often a visible expression of the person.
So, a person's clothes, tell you about the identity of the person. So the fact that Jesus clothes here turned white, probably is supposed to indicate his divinity or his Purity, or maybe it's supposed to indicate his Holiness. A Holiness that can only come from God, possibly all of those. There's some other places where white garments appear prominent so in Matthew chapter, 28, that angel at the to Has dazzlingly white garments.
And there's other places in the Old Testament to and then Mark adds this editorial comment that none of the other gospel authors ad, which is that his clothes became whiter than any Earthly bleacher could make them. So you can really hear Peters eyewitness. Recollections, coming through here. Remember, Mark's gospel, Mark, got most of his information, it seems from Peter.
So here it seems that we have a comment that Peter has directly added in. It was a whiter than Any Earthly bleacher could make them because Peter was there. He was one of the three Apostles, that's at the top of the mountain with Jesus. So what's going on here? Jesus Transfiguration, why does he suddenly become dazzlingly white? What's going on? The gospel was don't give us a full explanation but we can possibly summarize it as something like this.
The true glorified form of Jesus is shining through Jesus. True form is being revealed and it's the form. That will be fully revealed at the second coming when all people will see it. So Jesus here is shining with his own Divine. Glory typically you would associate this kind of blinding whiteness with, with God, or, with the angels, but here Jesus shines with it his shining with his own Divine Glory. So, presumably Jesus, is showing his innermost Apostles, his true identity.
His deliberately allowing them a glimpse at what he is. Really like, he feels that they're ready to see this. In a sense, you could also say the Transfiguration is a foreshadowing of resurrected Humanity in the new heavens and the new Earth, the righteous will have similar bodies to Jesus. And he said that in Daniel chapter 12, it talks about how the righteous will shine and then wisdom 3:7 and also in Matthew 13 verse 43. All of these have these descriptions of the righteous at
the judgment to go into shine. And then in verse 4, Mark says Elijah appeared to them with Moses so out. Of nowhere, Elijah and Moses show up, Elijah and Moses were considered to be the two most important figures in the Old Testament. And then in the development of the judaic religion, because Moses represented the law and Elijah represented the prophets. And together, the two of them represent the entire Old Testament.
So, presumably their appearance here is supposed to indicate to the apostles that are watching that Jesus truly has Divine approval. So not only is Jesus shining with his glory. It's like, God has also allowed Moses and Elijah to show up as another indicator that Jesus really does have Divine approval. If Moses and Elijah are there, it must mean that God, approves of it and that's certainly the way the apostles would have perceived it now. Try and put yourself in the
Apostle shoes here. These are faithful Jews, they don't fully understand. His identity yet. All of a sudden he shines with this Divine glory and then Moses and Elijah show up, who are the greatest most revered people in Judaism Now interestingly, both Moses the lawgiver and Elijah, the prophet, they're both well, known miracle workers. And notice the similarities Here with Jesus there, miracle
workers who fasted for 40 days. Both of them did both Moses and Elijah were rejected by some of God's people. Both of them encountered, God's glory on Sinai and then both Figures were associated with the Jewish eschatological hope for both Moses and Elijah. There's verses in the Old Testament, which talked about how How they're going to return in a sense before the coming of the new age, the Messianic age.
So they'll both expected to show up in some form and here, they both are another similarity here. And this is really interesting is that Moses? And Elijah apparently both had their bodies taken up to heaven. It's explicitly says that about Elijah in 1 Kings and then there's there was a Jewish Tradition at the time and the Book of Jude appears to mention this as well, that Moses is body. Also, apparently went up to
heaven after His death. So that would explain how both Moses and Elijah can appear in bodily form here because presumably in the Old Testament, when righteous people died, their bodies. Generally didn't go to heaven, but Moses and Elijah are exceptions. So that explains how they can appear here in their bodies and there were talking with Jesus. Now here we don't know exactly
what they were talking about. But later if you read the New Testament later on we learn a little more about what they were saying to Jesus. And The language, the New Testament uses is, they were talking about the Exodus that Jesus was to accomplish. So it's basically they're talking about his coming death and Resurrection. It'll be fascinating to know what they actually said to Jesus here. Can you imagine this conversation between Jesus? Moses and Elijah verse 5.
Then Peter spoke to Jesus Rabbi, or you can translate that Master which is it's a title of respect, which means my great one. So he's overwhelmed here. Peter is overwhelmed and he says it is wonderful for us to be here. Now, Peter is probably been quite genuine. He's genuinely excited by what
he's seeing. This will be a truly amazing event for him and for the other apostles, He probably thinks the kingdom of God Has Come Moses and Elijah have shown up which they expected to happen at the beginning of the kingdom of God. And Jesus, his shining with God's glory.
He probably thinks this is it. So he says, this is his suggestion, he says to Jesus. Let us make three tents or you can translate that booths one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. So Peter probably thinks they're going to stay for a while or possibly, he wants him to stay for a while, he's trying to get them. Um, to stay. He wants to prolong the Heavenly experience that he's witnessing. So what's going on with these
booths here? I want to read out this quote, from the Catholic commentary on sacred scripture and this is for the Book of Matthew, but it certainly applies to Mark's
version as well. So here's what it says, When Peter suggests to build three booths, he likely has in mind, the tents used for the Feast of Tabernacles, the Autumn Harvest Festival in which the Israelites dwelt in makeshift tents, for seven days commemorating, how God's presence dwelt in the tent of meeting and how the Israelites themselves dwelt in tents as they Journey Through the Wilderness on the way, to the promised land, the Greek word here.
Translated tense is used in the Septuagint for the tents made for this feast. Really, the feast also pointed
to a future fulfillment. Anticipating the time when the nations would come to Jerusalem to Worship the Lord, as King in an eschatological Feast of Tabernacles in Zechariah, 14 and Hosea 12. When Peter Witnesses, Jesus transfigured in glory, he may consider the eschatological era to be daunting and thus seeks to enter into this experience in a way reminiscent of the Feast of Tabernacles. So, that's a really nice quote, I think so, Peter, Has all these
things going on in his head. He's looking at Jesus being transfigured. He's seeing Moses, and Elijah and his associating. Those things with the coming of the Messianic age. And another thing that's associated with the coming of the Messianic, age is sort of a renewed Feast of Tabernacles. So he's putting all those things together and maybe that's why he wants to build them Broods. What Peter doesn't grasp is that Jesus glory is not going to
remain with them permanently. He is hoping that it will but what Jesus has been trying to tell you So, was this, the Jesus has to go to the cross in order for the fullness of his glory to be revealed. Peter doesn't get that yet, and he won't really understand that until Jesus is resurrected verse 6. He did not know what to say. They were so frightened or more. Literally, they're exceedingly, afraid. So, Peter, and the apostles are genuinely afraid about what's going on.
And this makes sense. Because if you think about what happens whenever someone encounters an angel in the Bible, the first thing, the and Eli's to say to them is do not be afraid. So, whenever God's glory shows up in this form, people are afraid it's frightening. Now, Peter suggests that he build tents for them, but he doesn't get an answer to his proposal because the, very next thing that happens is a cloud. Comes over them straight away as
Peter is speaking. So verse 7, a cloud came and Matthews version specifies that this is a bright cloud and a covered them in Shadow or more literally at overshadowed them. So this language of the cloud overshadowing them, it calls to mind how in the Old Testament, the cloud covered and protected the Israelites in the wilderness remember how the cloud followed them and led the way for them in the wilderness?
In the book of Exodus, the cloud represented, the very presence of God, God was considered to dwell in the cloud later. In the Old Testament, the cloud represented God's presence in the temple. And there's some scenes where they physically see God's God's presence in the temple in the form of a cloud. It was believed that God's presence left during the time of Ezekiel. There's a scene where the cloud leaves the temple, but the Jews
did believe that one day. God's glory would return When the kingdom of God arrived in its fullness. He's so the fact that the cloud shows up here hovering over Jesus. Now indicates that Jesus is the new Dwelling Place of God. This is the moment I've been waiting for God's. Glory has returned in the person of Jesus. Now some Scholars think that here maybe the cloud also represents the holy spirit.
So that would mean, the Trinity is present here, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that would certainly be a good parallel with the baptism event where the three persons of the Trinity will also present and then a voice came from the cloud. Bud. This is my son, the Beloved, or you can translate that this is my beloved Son. Again, this is exactly what the father said that Jesus baptism. But in the baptism.
It seems that only Jesus heard the voice but here it's directed at the apostles, the father speaks to the apostles and says, this is my beloved Son. He wants the father wants the apostles to be very clear on Jesus identity. This is my son and then God says, listen to him. So, I think the best way to interpret this whole event. What's the point of the Transfiguration? It's a solution to the disciples doubting Jesus and his authority. Remember, what's happened?
Just prior to this event. Jesus has been telling them. He's going to suffer and they seem to be struggling with this teaching. God wants the leaders of the disciples, Peter James, and John to have confidence in Jesus. And he wants those Apostles to teach the other Apostles to have confidence. So God allows the Transfiguration to happen in order to convince the apostles is that Jesus really is the Son of God and therefore, they should be serious about him and pay attention to him.
That's going to include taking seriously. What Jesus has just said about suffering. So maybe God's trying to teach the apostles that, if they listen to him and they follow him to the Cross, their Destiny will be joined to his and they too will experience a Divine Glory. So God, he says, listen to him and this might recall the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18 verse
15 where God says that one day. He'll raise up a prophet like Moses who the people will listen to and certainly that is fulfilled in Jesus. Now at this point Matthews version of the Transfiguration tells us that the apostles fell on their face in fear and Jesus Comforts them. But marks version just go straight into verse 8. Then suddenly when they looked around they saw no one with them anymore. But only Chase's, so Moses and Elijah have vanished. Jesus is not shining anymore.
The vision is over. It's accomplished. Its purpose. Verse 9 as they came down from the mountain, he warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen, so it would be too much for the other Apostles and the other disciples to handle. If the, if these three Apostles came down from the mountain and said, guess what?
We just saw they wouldn't be able to put it into words and probably the people that were talking to you wouldn't be able to believe and receive it or possibly maybe the issue would be that if they did tell people what they'd seen, the apostles and the disciples would believe it too much. And they will try to take him as king because there was beliefs at the time that the Messiah was going to be a great revolutionary King and all might get out of hand.
So here as Jesus does in other places he says don't tell anyone what you have seen. This is a privileged encounter but he adds in this qualifier don't tell anyone what you have seen until after the son of man has risen from the dead. Now, Jesus is already predicted once that he's going to die and Rise Again in chapter 8, but the apostles still don't understand. Jesus means by this so he says it again until after the son of
man has risen from the dead. Now the Jews that Jesus time did believe in a general Resurrection. They believe that people would rise again, but they believe that is all going to happen at once at the final judgment. They did not believe that there would be any individual resurrections before then even if the Messiah, that was not on their radar at all. So, every time before Jesus death, every time Jesus says, I'm going to die and rise again,
they just cannot fathom. It, it doesn't make sense. To them. Why does Jesus say don't talk about it until after the son of man has risen from the dead presumably because people are more likely to believe the story of the Transfiguration after the resurrection and maybe they'll understand the Transfiguration better in light of the Resurrection. Verse 10, Mark tells us the apostles, observe the warning Faithfully or more. Literally they kept the matter to them ourselves.
So unlike some other people in the gospels, when Jesus says, don't tell anyone and they run around and tell everyone here the apostles, they do, they listen to Jesus and they keep it to themselves. But Mark tells us though among themselves they discussed what rising from the dead could mean. So again they struggling with this concept that Jesus is going to rise again. So, I want to finish with this, quote here again, from the Catholic commentary on sacred
scripture. I think it does a really excellent job summarizing all of the theological threads that come together in the Transfiguration, what these three disciples saw and heard on the mountain would have reminded them of what happened to Moses at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 24, Moses LED three of his Close Associates up Mount Sinai. That Was Then covered by God's glory in the form of a cloud for Six Days.
On the With day, the Divine voice called out from the cloud and spoke to Moses. Moreover, during Israel. Stay at Sinai. Moses would enter the cloud. Atop The Mountain to talk to God and when he left his face would shine reflecting God's glory and leaving the people in awe. Similarly, Jesus singles out, three of his Apostles and leads them up a high mountain. That is overshadowed by The Cloud of God's glory. As its Sinai, a Heavenly voice calls out from the cloud on the seventh day.
Day as Moses face Shawn. So Jesus face shines brightly as the people at Sinai were left in awe. So the apostles at the end of the scene, a lying prostrate greatly afraid, the disciples soon will see their master betrayed arrested condemned and crucified here. Jesus gives three of them an opportunity to see his glory in order to prepare them for this supreme trial of their fate.
The scene reveals to them and to the readers that the Son of God on the mountain of transfiguration is the same son of man who will suffer and be killed on a hill in Jerusalem. So the really are some amazing parallels here between the Transfiguration, and the events of the book of Exodus. And it's probably not a coincidence. So that's the end of our text for today. You can hear the next section. So verses 11 to 13 on Saturday
of week six. In ordinary time, you might like to look through the podcast, archives, to find that one Saturday a week six in ordinary time. So, let's now turn to the catechism to see what a teacher's about this passage. How can this passage from Mark inform us on Catholic teaching so paragraph. 552 of the catechism is about the keys of the kingdom and there's a specific reference. Stu Peter here.
Remember Peter is one of the only Apostles it's allowed to come up the mountain, Simon Peter holds. The first place in the College of the 12. Jesus entrusted, a unique mission to him. And then the paragraph goes on from there paragraph 151. This is a really interesting one. This is in the section about what it means to believe.
In Jesus, for a Christian believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the one he sent his beloved Son in whom the father is, well pleased, God tells us to listen to him. The Lord himself said to his disciples believe in God believe. Also in me, we can believe in Jesus Christ because he is him. Himself God, the word made flesh. No one has ever seen God. The only son who is in the bosom of the father. He has made him known because he
has seen the father. Jesus Christ, is the only one who knows him and can reveal him. Paragraph, 4, 59. This is in the section about why did the word become flesh? The word became flesh to be our model of Holiness. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father, but by me on the mountain of the Transfiguration, the father
commands, listen to him. See here, we have an interesting explanation or various explanations of why the word became flesh and there's more than one reason. And in this section, the catechism, says, one of the reasons is so that he could be a model of Holiness and it links it here to the passage in the Transfiguration where the father
says, listen to him. And paragraph. 649 this is about the resurrection and here at links to the entire chapter of Mark chapter 9. It says, As for the sun, he affects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power. Jesus announces that the son of man will have much to suffer die. And then rise elsewhere. He affirms explicitly. I lay down my life. That I may take it again. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again. And the paragraph goes on from there.
I hope you learned something new in today's episode, the Transfiguration is really quite fascinating, and in a lot of ways, you can't really exhaust. It, it's well worth studying. If you've learnt something new, you think others would benefit from hearing this, please share this podcast with them and will continue tomorrow.