A few years back I was fortunate to visit Holy Land. While travelling to see places that related to the Scripture, the tour guide was talking about the great prophets in the history of Israel and Christianity. They are Moses and Elijah. Some similar characters could be found in those prophets. They are inspiring, chosen by God, going to wilderness, tested and glorified (taken to heaven bodily) like Jesus. It could be reflected on the fact that no one could locate where the tombs of Moses and Elijah are. Moses was believed to be buried in the mount of Nebo (in the territory of Jordan now), but there is no proof or sign of his grave. That was the story of the tour guide.
This weekend the gospel is about “transfiguration” where Peter, John and James could “see and experience” glorification in the presence of those “great prophets” Moses, Elijah and Jesus their master. Moses led people out of slavery in Egypt to the promise land and on the way, they received the Ten Commandments. Moses on the event of transfiguration represents Laws that guide Jewish people’s lives. Elijah represents faithfulness since he was the prophet who helped the people of Israel to stay faithful to Yahweh. And Jesus is our redeemer who liberates us from the slavery of sin.
It might surprise some people that in the middle of Lent we have a reading on transfiguration, which show God’s glory in the persons of Jesus, Moses and Elijah. However, it is very simple to understand the reason. We are invited by the Church to “see beyond” things. “Seeing Beyond” is a special gift. Only when we are open and we would be able to “see beyond”. The three disciples and all of us are asked to “see beyond” the cross/suffering which is “glorification”. In his transfiguration we see anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection. It could help us also to see beyond our “ordinariness of life” God’s Glory.