August 7, 2024

Wednesday Word – Transfiguration

Yesterday, August 6, was the Feast of the Transfiguration.  This is the day the Church commemorates that mountaintop event when Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah and his face became dazzling white.  This is also when a cloud overshadows everyone and the disciples hear a voice saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

This is a major event in Christian history because it reveals Jesus as part of the Godhead, and it also shows Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).  This is a big day on the Church calendar because not only was Jesus transfigured, but the disciples were also changed forever.

Yesterday, August 6, was the 79^th anniversary of the first nuclear attack in human history.  On that day a B-29 bomber named Enola Gay flew a mission to drop the atomic bomb Little Boy over Hiroshima.  It’s estimated that 66,000 people were killed instantly, while another 90,000 to 160,000 died of radiation poisoning over the next 2 to 4 months, and more throughout the year. 

This, combined with the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, was a major event in world history.  It not only ended WWII, but the world was also changed forever.

There is a dual transfiguration here.  The one, the light of God becomes blindingly brilliant in the face of Jesus and people learn that he is of God.  That light leads to life.  The other one, the light of man’s scientific advancement, becomes blindingly brilliant in the bomb-blast over Hiroshima, and people learn of how destructive we can be.  That light leads to death.

Two stories of transfiguration.  Two stories of blinding light.  In which light do we put our hope; and which light do we want to transfigure us?

Blessings,