Gospel Reading
Matthew 17:1-9
The Transfiguration is a major observance in the Orthodox
churches, arguably as central to Eastern theology as the Crucifixion is to the
West. Here the meaning of the Incarnation of Christ is fully revealed: The purity
and blinding brightness of the event suggests that Christ embodies that purity
and brightness in his own human form: He is, as Christian theology proclaims,
God himself—hence the reason that God says of Christ from the cloud that covers
them: “Listen to him.” Jesus is, in essence, God’s mouthpiece. Moses and Elijah
are there because they represent the Law and the prophets, respectively, and
now Jesus, the incarnate Son of God himself, has arrived on the scene to
supersede them both.
Peter’s insistence on building tents for Jesus, Moses, and
Elijah probably speaks to the human inclination to build human structures around
things to make them tangible and try to preserve them. Yet this experience is,
by its very nature, both spiritual and ephemeral—something to be experienced
and internalized, rather than held onto like a dead letter with an inferior
physical copy of the event.
And why does Jesus say not to tell anyone about the vision?
Probably because its significance can’t be fully understood outside of the
context of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, which of course haven’t occurred
yet.
Note here how many different words the translators use to describe the edifices Peter wants to erect. Booths, tents, tabernacles, shelters. The type of building Peter was suggesting was something like the moveable tabernacles that the Israelites in the desert used, so basically a temporary tent designated as a holy place. The Living Bible’s “huts” fails to capture this distinction, while Knox’s “arbours” might be a bit too fanciful, suggesting a permanent sheltered place formed by natural elements like trees and bushes, rather than an ephemeral structure.
From the Lectionary
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, 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.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “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.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Compare: New American Bible (1970)
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John
and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before
their eyes. His face became as dazzling as the sun, his clothes as radiant as
light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how good that we are here!
With your permission I will erect three booths here, one for you, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud
overshadowed them. Out of the cloud came a voice which said, “This is my
beloved Son on whom my favor rests. Listen to him.”
When they heard this the disciples fell forward on the
ground, overcome with fear. Jesus came toward them and laying his hand on them,
said, “Get up! Do not be afraid.” When they looked up they did not see anyone but
Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountainside Jesus commanded
them, “Do not tell anyone of the vision until the Son of Man rises from the
dead.”
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his
brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There
in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his
clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to
them; they were talking with him.
Then Peter spoke to Jesus. “Lord,” he said “it is wonderful
for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one
for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when suddenly a bright
cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which
said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.”
When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces,
overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. “Stand up,” he said “do
not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this
order: “Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the
dead.”
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother
of James, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone; and in their
presence he was transfigured; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes
became white as the light. And they saw Moses and Elijah appear, conversing
with him.
Then Peter spoke: “Lord,” he said, “how good it is that we
are here! If you wish it, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud
suddenly overshadowed them, and a voice called from the cloud: “This is my Son,
my Beloved, on whom my favour rests; listen to him.”
At the sound of the voice the disciples fell on their faces
in terror. Jesus then came up to them, touched them, and said, “Stand up; do
not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes they saw no one, but only
Jesus.
On their way down the mountain, Jesus enjoined them not to
tell anyone of the vision until the Son of Man had been raised from the dead.
Six days afterwards Jesus took Peter and James and his
brother John with him, and led them up on to a high mountain where they were
alone. And he was transfigured in their presence, his face shining like the
sun, and his garments becoming white as snow; and all at once they had sight of
Moses and Elias conversing with him.
Then Peter said aloud to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we should be here; if it pleases thee, let us make three arbours in this place, one for thee, one for Moses and one for Elias.” Even before he had finished speaking, a shining cloud overshadowed them. And now, there was a voice which said to them out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; to him, then, listen.”
The disciples, when they heard it, fell on their faces,
overcome with fear; but Jesus came near and roused them with his touch; “Arise,
he said, do not be afraid.” And they lifted up their eyes, and saw no
man there but Jesus only.
And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus warned
them, “Do not tell anybody of what you have seen, until the Son of Man has
risen from the dead.”
Six days after this, Jesus took Peter and James and his
brother John, and led them up on a high mountain, by themselves. And his
appearance underwent a change in their presence and his face shone like the
sun, and his clothes became as white as light. And Moses and Elijah appeared to
them, talking with him.
And Peter spoke, and said to Jesus, “Master, how good it is
that we are here! If you wish, I will make three huts here, one for you, and
one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” As he spoke a bright cloud overshadowed
them and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Beloved. He is my
Chosen. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard it, they were dreadfully frightened
and fell upon their faces. And Jesus came and touched them,
and said, “Get up and do not be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one
but Jesus himself.
And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus cautioned
them, saying, “Do not tell anyone of the vision you have seen until the Son of
Man is raised from the dead.”
Compare: The Living Bible (1971)
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John
to the top of a high and lonely hill, and as they watched, his appearance
changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling
white. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him.
Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here!
If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses
and one for Elijah.” But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and
a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully
pleased with him. Obey him.”
At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground,
terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he
said, “don’t be afraid.” And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.
As they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them
not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.
Compare: King James Version (1611)
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his
brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured
before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as
the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with
him.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, “Lord, it is good
for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for
thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” While he yet spake, behold, a
bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which
said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face,
and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, “Arise, and be
not afraid.” And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save
Jesus only.
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them,
saying, “Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from
the dead.”
And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James,
and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: And he
was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his
garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and
Elias talking with him.
And Peter answering, said to Jesus: “Lord, it is good for us
to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and
one for Moses, and one for Elias.” And as he was yet speaking, behold a
bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: “This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.”
And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were
very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, “Arise,
and fear not.” And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus.
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them,
saying: “Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.”
Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother
John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And in their
presence he was transfigured; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes
became dazzling white. Suddenly, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be
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, suddenly a bright cloud cast a
shadow over them. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and
were greatly frightened. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Stand up,
and do not be frightened.” And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one,
but only Jesus.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded
them, “Tell no one about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from
the dead.”
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and
John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was
transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments
became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah,
talking with him.
And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here;
if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and
one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a
bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and
were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and
have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but
Jesus only.
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded
them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.”