“The Transfiguration with Scenes”
Mark 9:2-10 relays the event when Jesus took three disciples with him up the mountain to pray. When they saw the light they became confused and terrified. They heard a voice saying: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
Coming down the mountain Jesus spoke of “being risen from the dead.” They wondered what this meant.
The light of the transfigured Jesus comes from within. It is the light of the Trinity revealing itself in Jesus. At that moment the eyes of Peter, James, and John were opened. Prior to His death, Jesus showed himself to them in the Resurrected state.
The eternal Trinitarian light reaches outward. It transforms everything, even the hills and clothing of those present. Nothing is left untouched by God’s presence. All creation is transformed, given anew its original beauty and more. All of creation is already in the initial stage of its “resurrection” and moving toward fulfillment.
In an icon, the border symbolizes our present day. Notice in the icon that there are some parts of the scene literally extending into the border pictorially making the rays of light, for instance, lighten our day.
Thank you, Jesus, the light of the world.
© 2010 Clyde Rausch, OMI