The Transfiguration of Christ is one of the central events recorded in the gospels. Immediately after the Lord was recognized by His apostles as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” He told them that “He must go up to Jerusalem and suffer many things….and be killed and on the third day be raised.” This announcement of Christ’s approaching passion and death was met with indignations by the disciples. And then, after rebuking them, the Lord took Peter, James and John up to a high mountain and was “transfigured before them.”

Jesus’ normal appearance was changed. His face shined “as the sun.” His clothes became “white as the light.” It is in this that the Transfiguration consists. The Jesus that the disciples knew well and whose looks, in ordinary life, did not differ radically from those of other people, suddenly appeared to them in a new and glorious form. The apostles see the glory of the kingdom of God present in majesty in the person of Christ. They see that in Him, “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” They see this before the crucifixion so that in the resurrection they might know who it is who has suffered for them, and what it is that this One, who is God, has prepared for those who love Him.

The Gospels show us that the first, fundamental, meaning of the Transfiguration concerns the Person of our Lord, whom the Father glorifies before letting Him go to His Passion. Effusions about the mystery of the transfiguration of the “earth” must not veil this truth: that, before all else, the Transfiguration is the Transfiguration of the well-beloved Son.

Besides this meaning, the presence of Moses and Elijah is also of great significance for understanding of the feast. These two figures actually stand for the Old Testament itself; Moses for the Law and Elijah for the Prophets. Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. He is the final completion of the whole of the Old Covenant; He is the fullness of all divine revelation. They also stand for the living and dead, for Moses died and his burial place is known, while Elijah was taken alive into heaven in order to appear again to announce the time of God’s salvation in Christ the Messiah. Christ is the Lord of both the living and the dead.

It must be noted that each person must take up his own cross. The burden in this world is different for each person., and each has been chosen by God to bear certain struggles for his own salvation and the salvation of those around him. The cross is to be taken up daily. It is the continual practice of faith and obedience.

On this special Holy Day, we bring bowls and baskets filled with fruit to be blessed. The blessing of grapes, as well as other fruits on this day is a most beautiful and adequate sign of the final transfiguration of all things in Christ. It signifies the ultimate flowering and fruitfulness of all creation in ‘God’s Paradise where all will be transformed by the glory of the Lord.

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating their birthday in August: Gregory Kary on August 12; and Marilyn Stagen, August 15; Samuel Czech, on August 17; Peter Czech, August 22; and Andrea Shaker on August 26. Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating their birthday in August, and also to Archbishop Michael on Aug. 28 and may God grant all of you Many Years!

Remember our needy neighbors. The Food Pantry is always in need of food items. Please keep those less fortunate in mind and help us to feed those in need. A basket is in the vestibule of the church for your convenience. Helen Baron, our food basket coordinator, thanks you and may God bless you abundantly for your generosity.