Transfiguration Sunday - Year B


A TINY WHISPERING SOUND

Once a fearless prophet, Elijah is cringing from dread of the brutal Queen, Jezebel. He runs away from Israel and returns to Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai) in Egypt. He is looking for guidance from God. He hides in a cave and waits for a manifestation like that shown to the Israelites under Moses. A storm with thunder and lightning shakes the mountain. God does not appear in this violence. Instead he makes his presence known in silence. He effects Elijah's conscience as a "tiny whispering sound" or "sound of sheer silence." We need to find God in quiet meditation.

I saw one like a Son of Man coming on the clouds

 

A lamp glowing in a dark place

 

Let us set up three tents

 


MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION

Scripture does not name the site of the Transfiguration. There are a few possible places in the Holy Land. Among them is Mount Tabor. In the Old Testament Deborah, a prophetess and Barak, a Judge camped here with their soldiers to defeat Sisera. (Jgs 4) It is a nearly perfect cone rising from the Jezreel valley, south of Nazareth. It affords a spectacular view yet provides isolation. Christians built a chapel here in the 4th century, to commemorate the Transfiguration. Another possible site is Mount Hermon in the north of the Holy Land.

Related: Resources on Sunday Readings - Clipart, homelies, articles, coloring pages, music: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

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