John the apostle begins his gospel narrative with the mystic expression: “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the
beginning” (1:1-2). This is the primordial personality of Christ. He is God in eternity. He is the
great I AM. He has always been and will ever be. He has no beginning and no end. The prophet
describes Him in the first reading of today as “one of great age”: “His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool. His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning
fire.” This depicts the nature of the Word in the beginning, the Word that was with God and the
Word that was and is still God.
Divine and Human
But owing to complex historical exigencies, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us” (Jn. 1:14). Through this hypostatic union, two natures (divine and human) were
united in one person, which made Jesus to become simultaneously perfectly divine and perfectly
human. This is, however, not his eternal nature, the personality Prophet Daniel described in the
first reading. It is rather a temporary nature necessary for a divine mission in the world.
His transfiguration on Mount Tabor revealed His primeval nature, the nature he had with God
in the beginning. This was what John was referring to, when he said, “We have seen his glory,
the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14).
When His mission on Earth is over, He would majestically return to his original nature, to “the
Sublime Glory” (2 Pet. 1:17).
Transformation to the Original State of Glory
Transfiguration can, therefore, be understood as a transformation to the original state of glory.
When one is transfigured, one becomes what one is in reality. It is a recapturing of one’s original
nature and state. Transfiguration is actually the most fundamental reason for the incarnation.
Jesus became man so that man would regain his original nature as God: “I said, ‘you are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High’” (Ps. 82:6). In the beginning, God created man in His image,
in His likeness (Gen. 2:26-27). In other words, he bears His DNA in Him. This is his original
nature. However, he lost this original nature through disobedience, which deformed this
awesome nature and consequently alienated him from God. From this point on, man lost his
orientation.
Searching
Nonetheless, this image was not lost forever but could still be restored to its original nature.
The effort to achieve this restoration is actually the reason man is restive. His entire life revolves
around the quest to regain his original nature, the quest for harmony, the search for true
happiness. Unfortunately, many do not know where and how to achieve this restoration. They
do not even know what their hearts search for. St. Augustine, for instance, sought this peace in
great learning and oratory, worldliness, and carnality before he finally realized the truth and
then said: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in
You.”
It is only by returning to God that man can regain his original nature. St Paul makes this point
clearer: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed….put on the new self, which is being renewed in
knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:5-10). This is the path to our personal
transfiguration.
I really enjoyed your reflection. Much to consider about our restoration as we are transfigured to our original nature.