CHRIST’S HOLY TRANSFIGURATION (Part III)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

CHRIST’S HOLY TRANSFIGURATION (Part III)

The Holy Fathers of the Church, speaking of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of Christ and the partaking of Divine Glory, speak of hte personal ascent on the mount of the vision of God. It is the constant cry of the Church: "make Thine Everlasting Light shine forth also upon us sinners." And in a related prayer in the first hour we feel the need to ask Christ: "O Christ, the True Light, which illuminate and sanctifieth every man who cometh into the world! Let the Light of Thy countenance be shown upon us, tha tin it we may behold the Light ineffable." Continual ascent and development are needed. In the Church we speak of man’s development, not from the ape man, but from man to God. And this "ecclesiastical theory" of development which the Church has, gives an understanding of life and satisfies all of man’s inner problems and existential anxieties.

Saint Maximos the Confessor teaches that Christ is not shown to all in the same way, but to the beginners He is shown in the form of a servant, while to those who are ascending the mountain of the VISION OF GOD He is shown "in the form of God."

As soon as the three Disciples on Mt. Tabor saw the glory of the person of Christ, they confessed: "Lord, it is good for us to be here, if you wish, let us make here three booths: one for You, one for Moses, andone for Elijah" (Matthew 17:4). Interpreting this desire of the Disciples, Saint Maximos the Confessor says, that the three booths are of action, vision and theology. Elijah, as courageous and prudent, was a model of the first booth (action), Moses, as a lawgiver and a righteous man was a model of the second (vision), and Christ the Lord was a model of the third booth (theology), since He was perfect in everything.

In this interpretive analysis are shown THE THREE STAGES OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE, PURIFICATION, ILLUMINATION, AND THEOSIS (DEIFICATION) WHICH CONSTITUTE MAN’S SPIRITUAL ASCENT ON MT. TABOR. Thus it is not a question of geographical ascent, but of a figurative
development. If we lool carefully at the whole life of the Church, and the Holy Fathers’ teaching about salvation, we shall discover that they constantly speak of these THREE STAGES OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE, WHICH CONSTITUTE MAN’S VARIED SHARING IN THE GRACE OF GOD. If the spiritual life does NOT have reference and development, then it is being made an idol or moralized.

The Transfiguration of Christ shows us just what Orthodox Theology is. From the teaching of the Church we know that theology is not conjectural and cerebral knowledge, but MAN’S SHARING IN THE DEIFYING ENERGY, VISION OF UNCREATED LIGHT AND INDEED, THEOSIS (DEIFICATION). When se speak of theology we mean EXPERIENCE AND VISION OF GOD.

In conclusion we must say that the Transfiguration of Christ is the central event in Christ’s life,but also a fundamental point in te life of man. Therefore it must be analyzed NOT with beautiful, moral thoughts and sentimental effusions, but IN THE FRAMEWORK OF ORTHODOX THEOLOGY. Moreover, we live in the Church and are trying not simply to become good people, but to be gods by grace. The life of the Church and Orthodox theology summon us to this height. [Resources: The Feasts of the Lord)

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in Christ’s Divine Transfiguration and Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George