1 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,300 Hi everyone. Welcome again to the Daily 2 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:17,600 gospel exegesis podcast, created by The Logical Bible study 3 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,400 Ministry. Thanks for listening as always, 4 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,800 our goal in this podcast is to help you understand. 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,800 The literal sense of scripture from a Catholic perspective, and 6 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,300 our reading for today is Mark chapter 9 verses 2 to 10. 7 00:00:31,300 --> 00:00:33,500 So, here's the reading, you would hear it today's mass, 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,900 Jesus Took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a 9 00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:42,100 high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. 10 00:00:42,900 --> 00:00:46,000 They're in their presence. Here was transfigured, his 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,800 clothes became dazzling, Lee White whiter than any Earthly 12 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,700 bleacher could make them Elijah appeared to them with Moses and 13 00:00:54,700 --> 00:01:00,100 they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus Rabbi. 14 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,800 He said it is wonderful for us to be here. 15 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,600 So let us make three tents one for you. 16 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:09,600 One for Moses and one for Elijah. 17 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,300 He did not know what to say. They were so frightened. 18 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,100 And a cloud came covering them in Shadow and there came a voice 19 00:01:19,100 --> 00:01:21,500 from the cloud. This is my son. 20 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:26,500 The Beloved listen to him. Then suddenly when they looked 21 00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:30,400 around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus. 22 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:34,300 As they came down from the mountain, he warned them not to 23 00:01:34,300 --> 00:01:38,200 tell anyone what they had seen until after the son of man had 24 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,600 risen from the dead. They observe the warning 25 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,100 Faithfully though among themselves. 26 00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:47,100 They discussed what rising from the dead could mean? 27 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:53,200 So that's our text for today and we're going to see here the 28 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,300 Transfiguration the famous event. 29 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:59,000 A lot of people treat this as a bit of an awkward event because 30 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,700 we're not entirely sure what to do with it, and that's makes 31 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:04,200 sense. Because in a lot of ways, what 32 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,700 happens here at the Transfiguration is a mystery? 33 00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:09,699 There's some aspects of it, that we don't fully understand. 34 00:02:09,699 --> 00:02:12,600 But what's interesting about this reading is the so much 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,300 packed in here. So many references to the Old 36 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:17,300 Testament and so many different things going on. 37 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:19,600 Theologically and really, it's one of those. 38 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,100 That you could keep Mining and keep learning new things all the 39 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:25,500 time. So we're just going to try and 40 00:02:25,700 --> 00:02:29,300 touch on each of the main areas. So, what's the context here? 41 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:33,000 Jesus has been doing Ministry all around Galilee and just 42 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,300 prior to, this has announced to his Apostles that he's going to 43 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:40,000 suffer. And also they should expect to 44 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,600 suffer if they want to inherit eternal life. 45 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,500 So, keep that context in mind. So we're now going to begin what 46 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:49,800 a lot of Scholars will consider to be the second. 47 00:02:49,900 --> 00:02:52,600 Half of Mark's gospel and there's some interesting 48 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,900 parallels here between the baptism, which Begins the first 49 00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:59,300 half of Mark's gospel and then the Transfiguration which Begins 50 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:02,100 the second half and we'll see those parallels as we go. 51 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,300 So verse 2 now, inverse to an hour lectionary, it's actually 52 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:10,100 taken out a phrase here because if they read this phrase, it may 53 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:12,200 not make sense to start with this phrase. 54 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,100 But if you look at your Bible, verse 2 starts with after six 55 00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:19,000 days. So this is six days after Jesus 56 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,900 has been speaking to The apostles about suffering which 57 00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:24,400 is what's the previous thing that happened in the gospel of 58 00:03:24,408 --> 00:03:25,900 Mark? So six days later. 59 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,700 Now the idea of six days some Scholars think there might be an 60 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:33,100 illusion here to the theophany of Mount Sinai. 61 00:03:33,500 --> 00:03:36,600 So you remember the story in the book of Exodus, Moses goes up 62 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,100 the mountain and The Cloud of God's presence covers Mount 63 00:03:40,100 --> 00:03:43,800 Sinai for six days before God spoke to Moses. 64 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,600 And you can see that in Exodus chapter 24 and that's 65 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,200 interesting because Mark doesn't usually tell us how many Days, 66 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,000 there are between events and what the exact chronology is of 67 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,900 things but here he says, after six days, so he probably is 68 00:03:56,900 --> 00:04:01,300 trying to draw his readers to a parallel between Moses and what 69 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:02,900 happens here at the Transfiguration. 70 00:04:03,500 --> 00:04:06,100 So Jesus Took with him Peter and James and John. 71 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,000 So he takes his three innermost disciples, this is like his 72 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,000 inner circle of disciples so there's some things and some 73 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,000 events that he only allows the inner circle of disciples to see 74 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:21,600 and there's something See only trusts them with. 75 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,900 So from this, we learn, there's a hierarchy even within the 76 00:04:24,900 --> 00:04:27,700 apostles. So these three men, Peter James, 77 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:30,700 and John go on to become very prominent leaders in the church. 78 00:04:30,700 --> 00:04:33,500 So, it seems that Jesus is deliberately bringing these 79 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:37,100 three because he wants them to witness this because they are 80 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:38,900 going to strengthen the other Apostles. 81 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,200 And then, it's going to inform the way they lead the church in 82 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,600 the future. So he leads them up a high 83 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,200 mountain in scripture. People go to mountains, to be 84 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,100 closer to heaven and to be Closer to God and this event, 85 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:54,300 the fact that they go up a mountain it seems to 86 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:58,100 deliberately mirror the way that Moses ascended Mount Sinai. 87 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:01,700 So you can see this is like the Mount Sinai event of the New 88 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:04,800 Covenant. The mountain, they go up, we're 89 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,500 not sure it's not. The name is a given to us most 90 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:08,900 Scholars. Have thought it might be Mount 91 00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:12,000 table which are certainly in the area although it could also be 92 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,300 Mount Hermon which is in the same area of Galilee as well. 93 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:19,700 So the text says, they wanted to be alone by themselves. 94 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:22,700 So, Jesus, specifically wants to be away from the crowds. 95 00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:26,500 He only wants his three innermost Apostles to see this. 96 00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:28,800 He doesn't want the crowds to see what happens at the top of 97 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,700 the mountain. So we're actually quite 98 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:34,100 privileged in what we learn here, because even Most of the 99 00:05:34,100 --> 00:05:37,700 disciples did not see what is recounted in today's Gospel. 100 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,100 And then Mark says, they're in their presence, he was 101 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:44,000 transfigured. Now, the word transfigured, it 102 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:48,300 literally means his appearance changed now Matthews version 103 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:50,300 actually adds a comment here Matthews version of the 104 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:54,800 Transfiguration adds the his face Shone like the Sun, so he 105 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,800 became dazzlingly White. And then in verse 3, it says his 106 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,200 clothes became dazzling, Lee white, or another translation is 107 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:06,700 his garments became Glistening. Now in scripture clothing is 108 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:08,800 often a visible expression of the person. 109 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,100 So, a person's clothes, tell you about the identity of the 110 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:14,900 person. So the fact that Jesus clothes 111 00:06:14,900 --> 00:06:18,500 here turned white, probably is supposed to indicate his 112 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:22,200 divinity or his Purity, or maybe it's supposed to indicate his 113 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,200 Holiness. A Holiness that can only come 114 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,300 from God, possibly all of those. There's some other places where 115 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:32,700 white garments appear prominent so in Matthew chapter, 28, that 116 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:35,400 angel at the to Has dazzlingly white garments. 117 00:06:35,500 --> 00:06:39,500 And there's other places in the Old Testament to and then Mark 118 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:43,100 adds this editorial comment that none of the other gospel authors 119 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:47,000 ad, which is that his clothes became whiter than any Earthly 120 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,900 bleacher could make them. So you can really hear Peters 121 00:06:50,900 --> 00:06:52,800 eyewitness. Recollections, coming through 122 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,100 here. Remember, Mark's gospel, Mark, 123 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:57,700 got most of his information, it seems from Peter. 124 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,400 So here it seems that we have a comment that Peter has directly 125 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,900 added in. It was a whiter than Any Earthly 126 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:06,400 bleacher could make them because Peter was there. 127 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,700 He was one of the three Apostles, that's at the top of 128 00:07:08,707 --> 00:07:11,600 the mountain with Jesus. So what's going on here? 129 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,800 Jesus Transfiguration, why does he suddenly become dazzlingly 130 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,000 white? What's going on? 131 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,300 The gospel was don't give us a full explanation but we can 132 00:07:20,300 --> 00:07:22,300 possibly summarize it as something like this. 133 00:07:22,900 --> 00:07:26,900 The true glorified form of Jesus is shining through Jesus. 134 00:07:26,900 --> 00:07:29,900 True form is being revealed and it's the form. 135 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,200 That will be fully revealed at the second coming when all 136 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,800 people will see it. So Jesus here is shining with 137 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,700 his own Divine. Glory typically you would 138 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:43,400 associate this kind of blinding whiteness with, with God, or, 139 00:07:43,407 --> 00:07:46,600 with the angels, but here Jesus shines with it his shining with 140 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,100 his own Divine Glory. So, presumably Jesus, is showing 141 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:52,800 his innermost Apostles, his true identity. 142 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,300 His deliberately allowing them a glimpse at what he is. 143 00:07:56,300 --> 00:07:58,700 Really like, he feels that they're ready to see this. 144 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,000 In a sense, you could also say the Transfiguration is a 145 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,700 foreshadowing of resurrected Humanity in the new heavens and 146 00:08:05,700 --> 00:08:08,700 the new Earth, the righteous will have similar bodies to 147 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:10,300 Jesus. And he said that in Daniel 148 00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:13,700 chapter 12, it talks about how the righteous will shine and 149 00:08:13,700 --> 00:08:18,000 then wisdom 3:7 and also in Matthew 13 verse 43. 150 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,200 All of these have these descriptions of the righteous at 151 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,400 the judgment to go into shine. And then in verse 4, Mark says 152 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,300 Elijah appeared to them with Moses so out. 153 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,400 Of nowhere, Elijah and Moses show up, Elijah and Moses were 154 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,799 considered to be the two most important figures in the Old 155 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:39,500 Testament. And then in the development of 156 00:08:39,500 --> 00:08:43,900 the judaic religion, because Moses represented the law and 157 00:08:43,900 --> 00:08:47,200 Elijah represented the prophets. And together, the two of them 158 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,500 represent the entire Old Testament. 159 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:54,800 So, presumably their appearance here is supposed to indicate to 160 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,100 the apostles that are watching that Jesus truly has Divine 161 00:08:58,100 --> 00:09:00,700 approval. So not only is Jesus shining 162 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:03,200 with his glory. It's like, God has also allowed 163 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:08,100 Moses and Elijah to show up as another indicator that Jesus 164 00:09:08,100 --> 00:09:09,800 really does have Divine approval. 165 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,700 If Moses and Elijah are there, it must mean that God, approves 166 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:15,100 of it and that's certainly the way the apostles would have 167 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,500 perceived it now. Try and put yourself in the 168 00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:20,100 Apostle shoes here. These are faithful Jews, they 169 00:09:20,100 --> 00:09:22,400 don't fully understand. His identity yet. 170 00:09:22,500 --> 00:09:25,500 All of a sudden he shines with this Divine glory and then Moses 171 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:29,300 and Elijah show up, who are the greatest most revered people in 172 00:09:29,300 --> 00:09:34,500 Judaism Now interestingly, both Moses the lawgiver and Elijah, 173 00:09:34,500 --> 00:09:37,200 the prophet, they're both well, known miracle workers. 174 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,600 And notice the similarities Here with Jesus there, miracle 175 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:45,300 workers who fasted for 40 days. Both of them did both Moses and 176 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:47,800 Elijah were rejected by some of God's people. 177 00:09:48,300 --> 00:09:53,400 Both of them encountered, God's glory on Sinai and then both 178 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,900 Figures were associated with the Jewish eschatological hope for 179 00:09:56,900 --> 00:09:59,300 both Moses and Elijah. There's verses in the Old 180 00:09:59,300 --> 00:10:02,500 Testament, which talked about how How they're going to return 181 00:10:02,500 --> 00:10:06,900 in a sense before the coming of the new age, the Messianic age. 182 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:11,100 So they'll both expected to show up in some form and here, they 183 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:13,600 both are another similarity here. 184 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,500 And this is really interesting is that Moses? 185 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:18,900 And Elijah apparently both had their bodies taken up to heaven. 186 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,500 It's explicitly says that about Elijah in 1 Kings and then 187 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:25,100 there's there was a Jewish Tradition at the time and the 188 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:28,500 Book of Jude appears to mention this as well, that Moses is 189 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:30,500 body. Also, apparently went up to 190 00:10:30,500 --> 00:10:33,600 heaven after His death. So that would explain how both 191 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,600 Moses and Elijah can appear in bodily form here because 192 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:42,100 presumably in the Old Testament, when righteous people died, 193 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:43,800 their bodies. Generally didn't go to heaven, 194 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,900 but Moses and Elijah are exceptions. 195 00:10:45,900 --> 00:10:50,100 So that explains how they can appear here in their bodies and 196 00:10:50,100 --> 00:10:54,100 there were talking with Jesus. Now here we don't know exactly 197 00:10:54,100 --> 00:10:56,500 what they were talking about. But later if you read the New 198 00:10:56,500 --> 00:10:59,200 Testament later on we learn a little more about what they were 199 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,800 saying to Jesus. And The language, the New 200 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,900 Testament uses is, they were talking about the Exodus that 201 00:11:04,900 --> 00:11:08,000 Jesus was to accomplish. So it's basically they're 202 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,100 talking about his coming death and Resurrection. 203 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,300 It'll be fascinating to know what they actually said to Jesus 204 00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:15,200 here. Can you imagine this 205 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,500 conversation between Jesus? Moses and Elijah verse 5. 206 00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:23,300 Then Peter spoke to Jesus Rabbi, or you can translate that Master 207 00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:26,200 which is it's a title of respect, which means my great 208 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,100 one. So he's overwhelmed here. 209 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:31,400 Peter is overwhelmed and he says it is wonderful for us to be 210 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,200 here. Now, Peter is probably been 211 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,000 quite genuine. He's genuinely excited by what 212 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:38,900 he's seeing. This will be a truly amazing 213 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:42,300 event for him and for the other apostles, He probably thinks the 214 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:45,400 kingdom of God Has Come Moses and Elijah have shown up which 215 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,400 they expected to happen at the beginning of the kingdom of God. 216 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,700 And Jesus, his shining with God's glory. 217 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,900 He probably thinks this is it. So he says, this is his 218 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:58,600 suggestion, he says to Jesus. Let us make three tents or you 219 00:11:58,608 --> 00:12:02,900 can translate that booths one for you, one for Moses, and one 220 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:06,300 for Elijah. So Peter probably thinks they're 221 00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:10,000 going to stay for a while or possibly, he wants him to stay 222 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,300 for a while, he's trying to get them. 223 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,500 Um, to stay. He wants to prolong the Heavenly 224 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:16,600 experience that he's witnessing. So what's going on with these 225 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,900 booths here? I want to read out this quote, 226 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:21,700 from the Catholic commentary on sacred scripture and this is for 227 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,300 the Book of Matthew, but it certainly applies to Mark's 228 00:12:25,300 --> 00:12:28,300 version as well. So here's what it says, When 229 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:31,600 Peter suggests to build three booths, he likely has in mind, 230 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,300 the tents used for the Feast of Tabernacles, the Autumn Harvest 231 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:39,100 Festival in which the Israelites dwelt in makeshift tents, for 232 00:12:39,100 --> 00:12:42,800 seven days commemorating, how God's presence dwelt in the tent 233 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,500 of meeting and how the Israelites themselves dwelt in 234 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:49,200 tents as they Journey Through the Wilderness on the way, to 235 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,700 the promised land, the Greek word here. 236 00:12:51,700 --> 00:12:56,000 Translated tense is used in the Septuagint for the tents made 237 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,500 for this feast. Really, the feast also pointed 238 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:02,600 to a future fulfillment. Anticipating the time when the 239 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,400 nations would come to Jerusalem to Worship the Lord, as King in 240 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,400 an eschatological Feast of Tabernacles in Zechariah, 14 and 241 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,600 Hosea 12. When Peter Witnesses, Jesus 242 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,600 transfigured in glory, he may consider the eschatological era 243 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,700 to be daunting and thus seeks to enter into this experience in a 244 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:24,500 way reminiscent of the Feast of Tabernacles. 245 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,300 So, that's a really nice quote, I think so, Peter, Has all these 246 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:31,300 things going on in his head. He's looking at Jesus being 247 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:33,500 transfigured. He's seeing Moses, and Elijah 248 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:37,300 and his associating. Those things with the coming of 249 00:13:37,300 --> 00:13:39,300 the Messianic age. And another thing that's 250 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:42,500 associated with the coming of the Messianic, age is sort of a 251 00:13:42,508 --> 00:13:45,200 renewed Feast of Tabernacles. So he's putting all those things 252 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,200 together and maybe that's why he wants to build them Broods. 253 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:52,600 What Peter doesn't grasp is that Jesus glory is not going to 254 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,100 remain with them permanently. He is hoping that it will but 255 00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:58,800 what Jesus has been trying to tell you So, was this, the Jesus 256 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,900 has to go to the cross in order for the fullness of his glory to 257 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:04,300 be revealed. Peter doesn't get that yet, and 258 00:14:04,300 --> 00:14:09,200 he won't really understand that until Jesus is resurrected verse 259 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:11,000 6. He did not know what to say. 260 00:14:11,300 --> 00:14:15,600 They were so frightened or more. Literally, they're exceedingly, 261 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,700 afraid. So, Peter, and the apostles are 262 00:14:18,700 --> 00:14:20,700 genuinely afraid about what's going on. 263 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,600 And this makes sense. Because if you think about what 264 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,100 happens whenever someone encounters an angel in the 265 00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:30,400 Bible, the first thing, the and Eli's to say to them is do not 266 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,000 be afraid. So, whenever God's glory shows 267 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,400 up in this form, people are afraid it's frightening. 268 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:39,000 Now, Peter suggests that he build tents for them, but he 269 00:14:39,008 --> 00:14:42,200 doesn't get an answer to his proposal because the, very next 270 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,200 thing that happens is a cloud. Comes over them straight away as 271 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,900 Peter is speaking. So verse 7, a cloud came and 272 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:53,600 Matthews version specifies that this is a bright cloud and a 273 00:14:53,608 --> 00:14:56,800 covered them in Shadow or more literally at overshadowed them. 274 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,600 So this language of the cloud overshadowing them, it calls to 275 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,000 mind how in the Old Testament, the cloud covered and protected 276 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,800 the Israelites in the wilderness remember how the cloud followed 277 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,600 them and led the way for them in the wilderness? 278 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,000 In the book of Exodus, the cloud represented, the very presence 279 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,500 of God, God was considered to dwell in the cloud later. 280 00:15:17,500 --> 00:15:20,400 In the Old Testament, the cloud represented God's presence in 281 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,200 the temple. And there's some scenes where 282 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:26,400 they physically see God's God's presence in the temple in the 283 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,100 form of a cloud. It was believed that God's 284 00:15:29,100 --> 00:15:31,300 presence left during the time of Ezekiel. 285 00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:35,200 There's a scene where the cloud leaves the temple, but the Jews 286 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,600 did believe that one day. God's glory would return When 287 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,500 the kingdom of God arrived in its fullness. 288 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,800 He's so the fact that the cloud shows up here hovering over 289 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,600 Jesus. Now indicates that Jesus is the 290 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,000 new Dwelling Place of God. This is the moment I've been 291 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,100 waiting for God's. Glory has returned in the person 292 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:54,900 of Jesus. Now some Scholars think that 293 00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:57,700 here maybe the cloud also represents the holy spirit. 294 00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:00,500 So that would mean, the Trinity is present here, the Father, the 295 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:03,600 Son and the Holy Spirit and that would certainly be a good 296 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,800 parallel with the baptism event where the three persons of the 297 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,100 Trinity will also present and then a voice came from the 298 00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:10,900 cloud. Bud. 299 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:15,200 This is my son, the Beloved, or you can translate that this is 300 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,400 my beloved Son. Again, this is exactly what the 301 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:22,000 father said that Jesus baptism. But in the baptism. 302 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,900 It seems that only Jesus heard the voice but here it's directed 303 00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:28,800 at the apostles, the father speaks to the apostles and says, 304 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,600 this is my beloved Son. He wants the father wants the 305 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,500 apostles to be very clear on Jesus identity. 306 00:16:35,500 --> 00:16:39,000 This is my son and then God says, listen to him. 307 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,400 So, I think the best way to interpret this whole event. 308 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,200 What's the point of the Transfiguration? 309 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,900 It's a solution to the disciples doubting Jesus and his 310 00:16:47,900 --> 00:16:49,400 authority. Remember, what's happened? 311 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,000 Just prior to this event. Jesus has been telling them. 312 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,400 He's going to suffer and they seem to be struggling with this 313 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,900 teaching. God wants the leaders of the 314 00:16:56,900 --> 00:17:00,700 disciples, Peter James, and John to have confidence in Jesus. 315 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:04,300 And he wants those Apostles to teach the other Apostles to have 316 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:06,400 confidence. So God allows the 317 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,400 Transfiguration to happen in order to convince the apostles 318 00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:12,900 is that Jesus really is the Son of God and therefore, they 319 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:15,599 should be serious about him and pay attention to him. 320 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,099 That's going to include taking seriously. 321 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:20,200 What Jesus has just said about suffering. 322 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,300 So maybe God's trying to teach the apostles that, if they 323 00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:26,800 listen to him and they follow him to the Cross, their Destiny 324 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,100 will be joined to his and they too will experience a Divine 325 00:17:30,100 --> 00:17:34,100 Glory. So God, he says, listen to him 326 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,700 and this might recall the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18 verse 327 00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:42,000 15 where God says that one day. He'll raise up a prophet like 328 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,500 Moses who the people will listen to and certainly that is 329 00:17:45,500 --> 00:17:48,700 fulfilled in Jesus. Now at this point Matthews 330 00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:51,600 version of the Transfiguration tells us that the apostles fell 331 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:54,900 on their face in fear and Jesus Comforts them. 332 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,600 But marks version just go straight into verse 8. 333 00:17:57,900 --> 00:18:01,000 Then suddenly when they looked around they saw no one with them 334 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,700 anymore. But only Chase's, so Moses and 335 00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:06,900 Elijah have vanished. Jesus is not shining anymore. 336 00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:08,900 The vision is over. It's accomplished. 337 00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:12,600 Its purpose. Verse 9 as they came down from 338 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,400 the mountain, he warned them not to tell anyone what they had 339 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:20,200 seen, so it would be too much for the other Apostles and the 340 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,100 other disciples to handle. If the, if these three Apostles 341 00:18:23,100 --> 00:18:25,500 came down from the mountain and said, guess what? 342 00:18:25,500 --> 00:18:28,400 We just saw they wouldn't be able to put it into words and 343 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,100 probably the people that were talking to you wouldn't be able 344 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:34,900 to believe and receive it or possibly maybe the issue would 345 00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:38,400 be that if they did tell people what they'd seen, the apostles 346 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,500 and the disciples would believe it too much. 347 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,900 And they will try to take him as king because there was beliefs 348 00:18:43,900 --> 00:18:46,300 at the time that the Messiah was going to be a great 349 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,100 revolutionary King and all might get out of hand. 350 00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:52,900 So here as Jesus does in other places he says don't tell anyone 351 00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:55,300 what you have seen. This is a privileged encounter 352 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,900 but he adds in this qualifier don't tell anyone what you have 353 00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:02,200 seen until after the son of man has risen from the dead. 354 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,500 Now, Jesus is already predicted once that he's going to die and 355 00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:10,600 Rise Again in chapter 8, but the apostles still don't understand. 356 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,500 Jesus means by this so he says it again until after the son of 357 00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:18,100 man has risen from the dead. Now the Jews that Jesus time did 358 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:19,700 believe in a general Resurrection. 359 00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:22,600 They believe that people would rise again, but they believe 360 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:26,300 that is all going to happen at once at the final judgment. 361 00:19:26,300 --> 00:19:29,200 They did not believe that there would be any individual 362 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,200 resurrections before then even if the Messiah, that was not on 363 00:19:32,208 --> 00:19:35,600 their radar at all. So, every time before Jesus 364 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,500 death, every time Jesus says, I'm going to die and rise again, 365 00:19:38,500 --> 00:19:40,600 they just cannot fathom. It, it doesn't make sense. 366 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:43,800 To them. Why does Jesus say don't talk 367 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,800 about it until after the son of man has risen from the dead 368 00:19:47,500 --> 00:19:51,100 presumably because people are more likely to believe the story 369 00:19:51,100 --> 00:19:54,400 of the Transfiguration after the resurrection and maybe they'll 370 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,600 understand the Transfiguration better in light of the 371 00:19:57,608 --> 00:20:01,700 Resurrection. Verse 10, Mark tells us the 372 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:04,500 apostles, observe the warning Faithfully or more. 373 00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:06,900 Literally they kept the matter to them ourselves. 374 00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:09,900 So unlike some other people in the gospels, when Jesus says, 375 00:20:09,900 --> 00:20:13,100 don't tell anyone and they run around and tell everyone here 376 00:20:13,100 --> 00:20:16,100 the apostles, they do, they listen to Jesus and they keep it 377 00:20:16,100 --> 00:20:19,400 to themselves. But Mark tells us though among 378 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,700 themselves they discussed what rising from the dead could mean. 379 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,200 So again they struggling with this concept that Jesus is going 380 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:31,200 to rise again. So, I want to finish with this, 381 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,800 quote here again, from the Catholic commentary on sacred 382 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:35,000 scripture. I think it does a really 383 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:39,600 excellent job summarizing all of the theological threads that 384 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,700 come together in the Transfiguration, what these 385 00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:45,900 three disciples saw and heard on the mountain would have reminded 386 00:20:45,900 --> 00:20:48,300 them of what happened to Moses at Mount Sinai. 387 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:53,300 In Exodus 24, Moses LED three of his Close Associates up Mount 388 00:20:53,300 --> 00:20:55,800 Sinai. That Was Then covered by God's 389 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,500 glory in the form of a cloud for Six Days. 390 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,300 On the With day, the Divine voice called out from the cloud 391 00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:05,700 and spoke to Moses. Moreover, during Israel. 392 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:08,400 Stay at Sinai. Moses would enter the cloud. 393 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,400 Atop The Mountain to talk to God and when he left his face would 394 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:16,600 shine reflecting God's glory and leaving the people in awe. 395 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:21,400 Similarly, Jesus singles out, three of his Apostles and leads 396 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,800 them up a high mountain. That is overshadowed by The 397 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,500 Cloud of God's glory. As its Sinai, a Heavenly voice 398 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:29,600 calls out from the cloud on the seventh day. 399 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:35,100 Day as Moses face Shawn. So Jesus face shines brightly as 400 00:21:35,100 --> 00:21:37,200 the people at Sinai were left in awe. 401 00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:40,800 So the apostles at the end of the scene, a lying prostrate 402 00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:44,600 greatly afraid, the disciples soon will see their master 403 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:48,400 betrayed arrested condemned and crucified here. 404 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,300 Jesus gives three of them an opportunity to see his glory in 405 00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:55,900 order to prepare them for this supreme trial of their fate. 406 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:01,100 The scene reveals to them and to the readers that the Son of God 407 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:03,900 on the mountain of transfiguration is the same son 408 00:22:03,900 --> 00:22:08,100 of man who will suffer and be killed on a hill in Jerusalem. 409 00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:11,900 So the really are some amazing parallels here between the 410 00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:14,600 Transfiguration, and the events of the book of Exodus. 411 00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:16,600 And it's probably not a coincidence. 412 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:19,600 So that's the end of our text for today. 413 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:24,000 You can hear the next section. So verses 11 to 13 on Saturday 414 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,900 of week six. In ordinary time, you might like 415 00:22:26,900 --> 00:22:29,600 to look through the podcast, archives, to find that one 416 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:32,400 Saturday a week six in ordinary time. 417 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:35,300 So, let's now turn to the catechism to see what a 418 00:22:35,308 --> 00:22:39,300 teacher's about this passage. How can this passage from Mark 419 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:44,000 inform us on Catholic teaching so paragraph. 552 of the 420 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,000 catechism is about the keys of the kingdom and there's a 421 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,000 specific reference. Stu Peter here. 422 00:22:49,500 --> 00:22:52,600 Remember Peter is one of the only Apostles it's allowed to 423 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,600 come up the mountain, Simon Peter holds. 424 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,200 The first place in the College of the 12. 425 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,200 Jesus entrusted, a unique mission to him. 426 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,000 And then the paragraph goes on from there paragraph 151. 427 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,200 This is a really interesting one. 428 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,500 This is in the section about what it means to believe. 429 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:13,900 In Jesus, for a Christian believing in God cannot be 430 00:23:13,900 --> 00:23:18,100 separated from believing in the one he sent his beloved Son in 431 00:23:18,100 --> 00:23:21,800 whom the father is, well pleased, God tells us to listen 432 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,300 to him. The Lord himself said to his 433 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:27,000 disciples believe in God believe. 434 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:31,700 Also in me, we can believe in Jesus Christ because he is him. 435 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,200 Himself God, the word made flesh. 436 00:23:34,500 --> 00:23:37,800 No one has ever seen God. The only son who is in the bosom 437 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,900 of the father. He has made him known because he 438 00:23:41,900 --> 00:23:45,400 has seen the father. Jesus Christ, is the only one 439 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,900 who knows him and can reveal him. 440 00:23:49,500 --> 00:23:52,200 Paragraph, 4, 59. This is in the section about why 441 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,200 did the word become flesh? The word became flesh to be our 442 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:00,000 model of Holiness. Take my yoke upon you and learn 443 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,500 from me. I am the way the truth and the 444 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:04,800 life. No one comes to the father, but 445 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,500 by me on the mountain of the Transfiguration, the father 446 00:24:08,500 --> 00:24:13,300 commands, listen to him. See here, we have an interesting 447 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,600 explanation or various explanations of why the word 448 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,200 became flesh and there's more than one reason. 449 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,400 And in this section, the catechism, says, one of the 450 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:25,800 reasons is so that he could be a model of Holiness and it links 451 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,000 it here to the passage in the Transfiguration where the father 452 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:34,500 says, listen to him. And paragraph. 649 this is about 453 00:24:34,500 --> 00:24:39,200 the resurrection and here at links to the entire chapter of 454 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:43,500 Mark chapter 9. It says, As for the sun, he 455 00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:47,700 affects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power. 456 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,000 Jesus announces that the son of man will have much to suffer 457 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:55,300 die. And then rise elsewhere. 458 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:58,700 He affirms explicitly. I lay down my life. 459 00:24:58,700 --> 00:25:02,400 That I may take it again. I have power to lay it down and 460 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:03,800 I have power to take it up again. 461 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:06,700 And the paragraph goes on from there. 462 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,900 I hope you learned something new in today's episode, the 463 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,600 Transfiguration is really quite fascinating, and in a lot of 464 00:25:13,608 --> 00:25:17,100 ways, you can't really exhaust. It, it's well worth studying. 465 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,000 If you've learnt something new, you think others would benefit 466 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,400 from hearing this, please share this podcast with them and will 467 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,300 continue tomorrow.