Today the 6th August, we commemorate the transfiguration of Jesus.         

In the gospels, Jesus takes Peter, James and John the Apostle with him and goes up to a mountain. Once on the mountain, Matthew 17:2 states that Jesus “was transfigured before them; his face shining as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.” Then the prophets Moses and Elijah appear next to him and he speaks with them. Jesus is then called “Son” by a voice in the sky, assumed to be God the Father, as in the Baptism of Jesus.  

Just as Elijah and Moses begin to depart, Peter asks Jesus if the disciples should make three tents for him and the two prophets. Before Peter can finish, a bright cloud appears, and a voice from the cloud states: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him”. The disciples then fall to the ground in fear, but Jesus approaches and touches them, telling them not to be afraid. When the disciples look up, they no longer see Elijah or Moses.

When Jesus and the three apostles are going back down the mountain, Jesus tells them to not tell anyone “the things they had seen” until the “Son of Man” has risen from the dead. The apostles are described as questioning among themselves as to what Jesus meant by “risen from the dead”.

In Christian teachings, the transfiguration is presented as the point where human nature meets God; with Jesus as the bridge between heaven and earth.