Today Jesus ascends a high mountain with three of his
disciples. In the cosmology of that time, high places were closest to heaven
and therefore to God. There, for just a brief moment, He allows his heavenly
glory, unbearable to sinful human eyes, to shine through, so that his disciples
can have a glimpse of the glory that will be given to all who trust in Him.
In the Old Testament, there are two words used to describe
the glory of the Lord. There is shekinah,
which is associated with an unbearable brightness, the light which shines forth
from God. When Moses emerged from the Tent of Meeting in the desert after
consulting with God, we are told that he had to veil his face so that the other
Israelites would be able to stand his presence.
The other word associated with glory is kavod. This word is associated with heaviness, or weightiness. It
was used of people to indicate importance and honour, much as we use the word
“weighty” today. It was frequently used to describe the majesty of kings and
other important figures. Both these words are undoubtedly associated with Jesus
in today’s gospel.
In other words, Jesus today is revealed as the path to
heavenly glory, and the Lord of all, the most important person that we can
honour and worship. He reveals a power and a glory that are beyond our capacity
to understand. He means to share it with each of us, if we really want him to.
“Arise! Shine out! For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord has risen
upon you” “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for
you have created all things, and by your will they existed
and were created.” With words like these from Isaiah and Revelation, we should
contemplate the place in glory which Jesus has gone to prepare for us, and ask
him to make us worthy of receiving a place in his kingdom.
Fr. Phillip
