Divine identity

The Transfiguration of the Lord

Today it is Sunday 6th August, the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Instead of the readings for the 18th Sunday, we listen instead to the episode which retells when Jesus was transfigured in front of the apostles, on Mount Tabor. This year, we have listened to this passage on the second Sunday of Lent. 

In this week’s Gospel passage, Jesus asks Peter, James and John to go with him on a mountain. While they are there, Jesus transfigures before them, his clothes becoming bright and his face shining. Moses and Elijah also appeared with him. In addition, here, God’s voice was heard saying that Jesus was his son and that we should listen to him. In the three synoptic Gospels, the Transfiguration takes place after Jesus has just announced his death and what the role of a disciple is. This Transfiguration is therefore a source of hope, in the promise of the glory of Jesus and his resurrection, and ours.

We need to be transformed, to enjoy the glory of heaven. We need to change and live according to the way Jesus showed and taught us. What will convince us to make this change? It is faith that causes our transformation. And what is faith? Faith is obedience to the desires that God has for us. Faith will not necessarily bring understanding. In the Bible we have numerous such examples. Amongst these we find, Abraham, a man who was already old, did not understand what God wanted, where his obedience would lead – and yet, despite this, he did what God told him! God asked Moses to go to Pharoah and ask him to let the Israelites go. How could Moses understand what God was asking him to do? He stammered; he was wanted in Egypt for killing an Egyptian. However, his faith in God made him do as he was asked. What led Mary to accept God’s invitation to become the mother of his son, if it was not faith? We remember too when the apostles obeyed Jesus and cast their nets in the morning, after a night of fishing without catching anything. In our life too, there are occasions where it must be our faith, our obedience to God, that leads us to make certain decisions, because the path we are going to take when we take this decision is not clear. But nevertheless, we trust in God and we take it.

The transfiguration of Jesus gives us hope, because it outlines what is yet to happen to us; a life of glory with God in heaven. The voice of God that is heard in this event shows the way in which we too can be transfigured. In all moments, we must listen to Jesus. The questions is – where will we hear Jesus? We hear him in the reading of the Bible, in homilies and in spiritual meetings, we hear him especially in prayer and in moments of silence.

But we cannot stop there, we must accept what he is telling us, and we must do it. The teaching of Jesus must become what guides us in our daily decisions. How beautiful, how comforting, the part where the apostles fall to the ground in fear, and Jesus approaches them, touches them, and tells them not to be afraid. And with us, Jesus does and says the same things. Jesus never leaves us alone.

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 17:1-9)

The Transfiguration 

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. For the Jews, to climb a mountain meant to go closer to God, to the God who is in the heavens. Personally, where do you go to feel close to God?
  4. Have you ever had moments where, like Peter, you said, “Lord, how good it is that I am here!”? This week, spend time in silence, and stay with God; there is no need for many words, believe that he is with you and spend this time in his presence.
  5. God in his mercy and love wants to transform us to be more whole people, people in his image. What do you think is that thing that God is currently asking you to change in your life to thus get closer to him?
  6. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    a. The Bible reading from St Matthew (17, 1-9)
    b. A lit candle
    c. Cover the table with white cloth
    d. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  7. Go through the steps with your kid’s (2 age groups are being suggested)
  8. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  9. Be creative 😊
  10. Go to the Prayer Spaces section to continue praying as a family

Today in the Gospel we hear about the time Jesus went on a mountain with three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John. There they saw Him shining like the sun, talking with Moses and Elijah. They were talking about how Jesus was going to go to Jerusalem and be killed. It’s called the Transfiguration of Jesus.

Jesus let Peter, James, and John see Him in glory and helped them understand why He had to suffer and die, it was an amazing experience for the

  • Printout of today’s activity 
  • scissors 
  • Colours 
  • Pencil
ActivityDownload

In today’s Gospel an amazing thing happens to Jesus, it is a great moment in Jesus’ life, a very special day. We hear about how Jesus was transfigured. “Transfiguration” means a complete change in appearance, to be more beautiful. One day Jesus took three of His closest disciples up a mountain Peter, James, and John and whilst they were there Jesus became bright like the sun and His clothes became white. Then, two important men, Moses and Elijah are seen with Jesus. They lived before Jesus, and everyone respected them because they had obeyed God during their lives, doing what God asked them. Jesus was talking with them, and Peter wanted to set up three tents for them. But just at that moment a bright cloud covered them, and a voice said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” The disciples were afraid and fell to their knees, but Jesus touched them, telling them not to be afraid and to stand up. Whose voice do you think they heard? It was the voice of God. Jesus was covered in God’s glory when He was transfigured, He was the beloved Son of God, the Messiah. When they were coming down from the mountain Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until after His death. Why do you think God showed this amazing event to the disciples? It was because He wanted to send a special message, this message is that Jesus was God’s own dear Son and that they should listen to Him. This message was to help us also to live as followers of Jesus. To live as Christians. 

How can we follow Jesus? What do we need to do? (read the Bible, pray, help others, love others, share what we have, forgive others, play fair, say the truth …) When we do these things, we become beautiful from the outside too. Everyone enjoys staying with someone who behaves well. 

On Mount Tabor, the clothes Jesus wore, changed. Let us image that our good behaviour is like different items of clothing, which will make us look good. For today’s activity you have a cut out of a boy/girl and their clothing. Cut them out and you may dress them up. However, before doing this, on each item of clothes write one of the good choices mentioned earlier. You may also colour them. Leave these paper dolls in your room, so that you remember what you are to do to follow Jesus. 

Listen to the song.

Sign of the cross 

Dear Jesus, help me during this time of Lent to listen to you and to shine brightly with your love so that people will know that I am Your disciple. Amen.

In this week’s gospel Jesus reveals his divine identity to the disciples – He shows him his godly nature!

We will learn that:

  • That Jesus is the final fulfilment of all that we have been hoping for; He is still our ultimate joy today

We need:

  • Whiteboard marker 
  • Whiteboard
printoutDownload

In this week’s Gospel passage we explore Jesus’ “transfiguration”. This is a pretty big word—can you say it? (i.e., invite the children to say it). See, Jesus went up on a mountain and He took a few of His closest friends with Him: Peter, James, and John. As they were up there, Jesus began to suddenly shine like the sun, all full of light (option: here you may shine a flashlight or torch for added effect). 

All this made the disciples rather terrified. Then, all suddenly, next to Jesus they saw Moses and Elijah. The apostles didn’t know what to do, and soon after, they heard God’s voice say: 

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 

After hearing this, the disciples realized that they were in God’s presence, and they fell flat on their faces in fear. But Jesus comforted and encouraged them to get back up! The disciples had caught a peek of who Jesus Christ was! They got to see Jesus’ in his divine nature. When Jesus came to Earth, it was sort of like He was God in disguise. He was truly and completely a human person, but, at the same time, He was also totally God. Many people had been waiting for a Messiah and wondering what He would be like. The disciples had wondered if Jesus was the one they had long awaited. They thought He was. But this experience on the mountain took away any possible doubt. Seeing Jesus transformed, in a way, and hearing God’s voice, made them absolutely certain of who they were following. This was really and truly God. 

How do you think all this made them feel? I think they were probably quite relieved at knowing who Jesus was “for sure”. Indeed, I bet they hurried to tell the other disciples, and couldn’t wait to spend more time with Jesus. Are we that excited? We know the rest of the story… Jesus not only lived as a human, but He died and rose again so that we could have life with God. He was really God, and became a person like us. Knowing this should make us

shine with hope and joy. We should be eager to share this with others, celebrating the love that God has for us! 

God tells the apostles, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” God says these same words to us too. How can we listen to Jesus? (we read the Bible, homilies during mass, catechetical meetings, religion lessons, our parents, grandparents and others may talk to us and teach us about Jesus, we also listen to Jesus when we pray) For this week’s activity you have a printout which may be cut out to form a cube. On one of the faces you have written, “This is my beloved son; listen to him.” On the other faces write how and where you may listen to Jesus speaking to you. 

Afterwards, listen to the song, Totally Transformed.

Sign of the cross. 

Dear Father, thank you for showing us who Jesus is; help us be amazed by your glory and to shine with your love. Thank you for the Bible. Thank you for all the love you expressed and continue to express in Jesus. We love you too! Amen.

The Transfiguration of the Lord in symbolsDownload

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.