The Gospel for March 26, 2004
Mark 9:2-13
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean. And they put this question to him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ He said to them, ‘Elijah is indeed first coming to set everything right again; yet how is it that the scriptures say about the Son of man that he must suffer grievously and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come and they have treated him as they pleased, just as the scriptures say about him.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. 1995, c1985. Doubleday: Garden City, N.Y.
A Study
"... Elijah has come..."
For every long essay about what this snip of scripture might mean, twenty others pose a different, equally compelling rationale. Perhaps it is intended, like a radio drama, for the listener to fill in his or her own meaning at that particular listening? Was John Baptist the new Elijah?
Twice now Mark has related a voice from heaven pronouncing Jesus as His son. Once, as one who has found favor, and now as one who is Beloved. The voice instructs those who hear to "listen to him." Peter, John, and James must have been awestruck.
Finally, why did Jesus need to have these three particular men accompany him to the scene? Peter, the rock, and the two brothers, James and John?
When the Gospel leaves us with more questions than answers, God is instructing us in patience and diligence. 'Look, listen, learn, think, ponder on Me," He is telling us.
A Reflection
When we study the Word, we toss and turn meanings and histories in our memories. When else in Mark do we have the "voice from heaven"? What does Mark record about Peter, James, and John that make them the special ones to go up the mountain to witness the transfiguration?
There may be other sacred literature that can hold us fixed for hours on end, wrestling with one or two questions. I don't know what the other books might be. The Bible, in its numerous translations, and the hundreds of commentaries written about the translations, all contribute to helping with an answer. Sometimes we just have to say that we'll come back another day, perhaps with more wisdom. Sometimes, a question will yield an answer when one commentary happens to give just the right flavor to a translation, or we line up two unrelated thoughts to yield an "aha" momemt.
Far from an intellectual pursuit, this is a highly emotional effort aided by intellect, aided by intuition, aided by prayer answered by the Holy Spirit guiding us to the Truth.
O GOD, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty, who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.
9:41:01 PM 
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