Transfiguration Day August 6, 2006 Ocala, Florida           

"This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. " Matthew 17:5

Today is the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The verse I just mentioned, is from the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 17, verse 5. These are the very words of God, the Father that were uttered during the Lord's Baptism by St. John the Baptist in the River Jordan, when the Holy Trinity was manifested by the voice of God the Father from Above, the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove, coming down on the head of Jesus, and the Lord Himself.

These words were first heard when the Lord was Baptized by St. John the Baptist, when the Lord was about to commence His Earthly Ministry. After three years they were heard again, when He had completed His Earthly Ministry, shortly before He was to be apprehended as a common criminal and crucified.

"This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased," was the overflowing of God's love toward His Son, because He faithfully fulfilled the will of His Father in Heaven. Amongst the Events of the will of the Father, was the revelation of the Lord's glory, which He manifested before three of his Beloved Apostles, when He was transfigured on Mount Tabor. On this Mount the Lord showed forth all His Divine Glory, in order that He would further edify them in their faith, and to give them the courage to sustain the trials and tribulations they would suffer, ending in martyrdom for the Glory of God.

Therefore, my sermon today will concentrate on the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, --- the Event and the symbolism of this glorious manifestation.

And also to see how we ourselves could possibly be spiritually transfigured, in order to become worthy children of God.

As we have learned from the Gospels, the Lord so often would journey into the calm of the desert, or to a small mound to pray, in the serenity of the night, when it is easier to concentrate.

On one of these occasions, He took three of His beloved Apostles, Peter, John and James to journey to the top of Mount Tabor, to pray. The Lord sensed this need, especially since He had prophesied to His Disciples, that He would be apprehended and put to death as a common criminal. But, this would not be the end, because He would rise on the third day. He spoke about His Ascension into Heaven and of His second coming to judge the living and the dead.

But, the Apostles could not conceive this glory, because their finite minds could not comprehend the glory of which the Lord spoke. In order then, to give them a live portrayal of His Divine Glory, so that later, when He would be suffering at the hands of His enemies, they would not weaken in their faith, the Lord was completely transfigured. His Body did not change in appearance, but His face shown brighter than the sun, and His garments were so bright, that they blinded His Disciples. Just then, there appeared Moses and the Prophet Elias conversing with Jesus.            At this point Peter said to the Lord: "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish I will put up three shelters, one for You, one for Moses and one for Prophet Elias."

While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from Above was heard: "This is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him." Terrified, the three Disciples fell face down to the ground. The Lord touched them saying: "Get up. Don't be afraid."

When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus. Why did the Lord choose to take only three of His Disciples, to witness what was indescribable,           The Lord chose John, His Beloved Disciple, who fell onto the Lord's bosom during the Last Supper, because he represents the followers, who in every facet of their life, submit their total being to the will of the Lord. He chose Peter, as a prototype follower of Jesus, who seek to spread God's Kingdom upon this earth. Lastly, He chose James, as an example of complete devotion ending in martyrdom, without hesitating even for a moment to give their life completely to the Lord.

The Transfiguration of the Lord gives us a vivid portrayal of the future of the just. A situation, in which eternal truth, justice and happiness will reign. The fact that Moses and the Prophet Elias were present in the Transfiguration, constitutes a verification of our immortality, and the justification of those, who are the Lord's!

How then can we be part of this great Glory of God? The answer is quite simple. We become part of God's Glory with our spiritual transformation. We love God, and we try to live by His Commandments, but there is always room to make adjustments and improvements, so that we live conscientiously to be in conformity with the Lord's will.

When we are successful, to fully discipline ourselves, rest assured we will have created a living paradise. Of course the choice is always up to the individual, to exercise his or her free will, to achieve possible perfection.