Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could bear it; so that when they should see Thee crucified, they would know that Thy suffering was voluntary, and would proclaim to the world that Thou art truly the Radiance of the Father.
Kondakion of the feast, tone 7
On this radiant day, when the Church of Christ celebrates the wondrous transfiguration of the Lord on mount Tabor, it is appropriate to pay attention not so much to the miracle itself, but rather to its meaning for the disciples and apostles, and for us as well.
For what reason was the Lord transfigured before His disciples and why did He reveal His glory to them?
From the kondakion of the feast it is apparent that He did that in order for them to understand that His suffering will be voluntary and not a terrible twist of fate. The Lord foresaw His sufferings and accepted them without murmuring for the sake of our salvation. The Lord, Whose face and even garments, were radiant like lightning, radiant with otherworldly light, was silent before Pilate and did nothing to avoid a terrible and agonizing death. He, Who created heaven and earth, Who was transfigured on Tabor and Who revealed His divine glory, humbly stretched out the very hands, that were radiant like lighting, upon the cross.
Having pondered on so great a Divine condescension, let us hasten, brothers and sisters, to the light of Tabor. Let us cleanse our hearts from the darkness of fleshly and spiritual passions that blind us and prevent us from seeing the pure and joyous light of the Lord. If our hearts are heavy with grief and the sorrows of this life, let us call to mind the Lord’s sufferings. Let us remember that the Lord, Who was transfigured on Tabor, humbly endured betrayal, blasphemy, beating and death upon the cross. Then, we shall understand that sorrows and sufferings cannot separate us from the Lord, Who endured all. Then, illumined by the light of the grace of God, each of us will bear his cross with peace and thanksgiving.
May the Lord illumine us with His light and fill our hearts with joy. Amen.