The mystery of the crucifixion and the beauty of God’s reign
The mountain of the Transfiguration is the place of mysteries, the place of ineffable realities, the rock of hidden secrets, the summit of the heavens. Here the symbols of the future kingdom were revealed: the mystery of the crucifixion, the beauty of God’s reign, Christ’s descent at his second coming in glory. On this mountain, the luminous cloud covered the splendor of the righteous; the future good was already realized. The cloud enveloping this mountain prefigures the carrying away of the righteous on the clouds; it shows us already today what we will look like in the future, our configuration with Christ…
While he walked with his disciples, Jesus told them about his reign and his second coming in glory. But perhaps because they were not sure enough about what he had told them concerning his reign, he wanted them to end up being very firmly convinced in the depth of their heart, and he wanted present events to help them to believe in the future events. That is why he let them see that marvelous divine manifestation on Mount Tabor as a prefigurative image of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he were telling them: “So that your gaze might not bring forth incredulity in you, soon, even now ‘I assure you, among those standing here’ and listening to me ‘there are some who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man come in his kingship.’” (Mt 16:28) “Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transfigured before their eyes.” …
“How awesome is this place! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and this is the gateway to heaven!” (Gen 28:17) We must hasten to this gateway.
Ecclesiastes 3:7