Transfiguration

What was Jesus praying about on the mountain when he was transfigured? Was he interceding for his disciples and the world like he did in John 17? Was he pleading with his father? Was he communing with him in mystical union like he did before coming to earth? Was he chatting with the Father and the cloud of witnesses about what was to come? Is that why Elijah and Moses appeared? What was it that kept him up sleepless night after night (for he seems to often go off and pray the night away)?

The disciples he took with him couldn’t pray like that. They dozed off… but hey, dozing off in the presence of Christ and waking to a wonderful communion of the kingdom you are learning to enter is indeed a sweet thing. Still, Peter must have felt a little awkward waking up to this fantastic sight; a little guilty he couldn’t keep praying. What are we here for anyway?

“Master its good we’re here we can build three booths for you and Moses and Elijah.” His idea has echoes of the feast of tabernacles and in its eschatological expectation isn’t far fetched. But God himself tells them why they are there. Not to build booths, but to listen to the shiny one-his one and only Son. Superior to the law and the prophets, the new kingdom turns them on their head with a long expected, yet unexpected fulfillment.

What do we do when we find Jesus in his glory? Or do we ever? Do we ever bother to ascend the mountain with him? Are we too afraid that our falling asleep will disappoint him and the Saints we find with him?