Transfiguration - conclusion

Transfiguration is the last festival Sunday before Lent and the lessons reflect the mystery and majesty of God. The chariot of fire whisks away the end time prophet who will turn up in the Gospel for a meeting on the mount with Moses and the transfigured Christ. The psalm praises the God who in fire and tempest controls the course of time through the rising and setting of the sun. Because God shines forth the minds of believers see what is hidden from everyone else. And in the moment of glory that terrifies the disciples Jesus takes back what he gave up. Maybe the most important thing about the story is that he gave glory up again to walk down the mountain with dimwitted disciples knowing that in the end he would have to climb a hill all alone and be transfigured through death on a cross.