The Mystery of Revelation

The Transfiguration of the Lord is the Mystery of Revelation. Some seek to understand, so that they might believe; but we must believe, so that we understand.

In Matthew 16, Jesus calls on his disciples to name the Messiah: “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” Simon replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blesses him, saying, “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven,” and He gives Simon his new name, and the keys to the Kingdom. Simon, now Peter, has believed in Jesus, and with that belief has come revelation.

More is to come. Six days later, Jesus leads Peter and James and John to the mountain top, and is transfigured before them, shining like the sun, His divinity made plain. What Peter knew, he now sees.

Still there is more: with Jesus are Moses and Elijah, the Lawgiver and the Prophet, two of those through whom God has progressively revealed Himself to the Children of Israel. This Jesus stands with them, a revelator in His own right.

And still more: a voice from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” For Jesus Christ Himself is not only the revealer but the revealed, Himself the full revelation of God to Man.

And so we ourselves come to believe in Him, through the teachings and example of the Church, and through the Scriptures that speak everywhere of Jesus Christ, manifest in the New Testament and hidden but still present throughout the Old Testament, and through His love and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And as we believe and seek him more ardently, so the scriptures and the teachings open themselves and we begin to see Him more and more—through a glass, darkly, for now…but only for now.

Then…we shall see Him as He is.

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