TRANSFORMED BY HIS GLORY

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration. In Matthew 17, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain. There, He is transfigured before them: His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear, talking with Him. Overwhelmed, Peter suggests building three shelters. As he speaks, a bright cloud envelops them, and a voice declares, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

Imagine standing on that mountain, seeing the radiant glory of our Lord, His face shining like the sun, His clothes dazzling white, and hearing the voice of God affirming His Son. In that moment, the disciples caught a glimpse of the divine, a preview of the heavenly glory that awaits us all.

But here’s the exciting part: that same transformative power is at work in each one of us today. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When we come to Christ, a veil is lifted from our hearts. We begin to see His glory, not just as a distant dream but as a present reality. To contemplate the Lord’s glory means to fix our eyes on Jesus like Peter, James, and John. It’s about spending time in His presence, reading His Word, and allowing His Spirit to speak to our hearts. When we gaze upon His beauty, His holiness, His love, we are changed.

As we keep looking, we start to see less of our imperfections and more of His perfection. Less of our weaknesses and more of His strength. Less of our failures and more of His victories. Less of our worries and more of His peace.

The more we focus on Jesus, the more we become His image. It’s a process, a journey from one degree of glory to another. When we stay close to Jesus His light shines in us and through us. It changes our perspective, gives us hope, and fills us with His peace. It enables us to reflect His glory to those around us, to be a light in the darkness, and to bring hope to a hurting world.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
July 7, 2024