He took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Luke 9:28B-36 (NABRE)
Good ol’ Peter.
A couple of things really stand out to me. One, the fact that this takes place on a mountain, and two, the identities of the men who appear and discuss the exodus that Jesus will accomplish.
First, the mountain. Mountains are difficult to traverse. Even if you use a motor vehicle, you find that the roads are narrower, the turns sharper, and the conditions more hazardous than a route on flat land, even on a mild day. You think of a mountain and you think of roughness and hardship, perhaps while recollecting your own experiences with traveling up and down one. It is on a mountain that Jesus foreshadows two things at the same time: the exodus of his Passion and the glory of his Resurrection. We always hear that the Way of the Cross is the path we take to Heaven. Jesus tells us so when he says we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow him (Luke 9:23). Where do we follow him? Well, to Heaven, yes, but before that, to Golgotha, that place where the crucified Jesus assured the penitent, crucified criminal that he would join him in Paradise on that day (Luke 23:39-43).
Second, Moses and Elijah. The inspired Luke writes that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talked about the “exodus” that he was about to accomplish. If you take a look at the stories of Moses and Elijah, you find that both of them went on an exodus with a time length involving the number 40. For Moses, it consisted of 40 years spent shepherding the Hebrew people from Egypt to the Promised Land. For Elijah, it consisted of a 40-day, 40-night walk to Mount Horeb, where he encounters God in a cave (1 Kings 19:8-13). Of course, Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. Later, he accomplished his other exodus in Jerusalem. There’s a recurring theme of “exodus” throughout Holy Scripture. In each exodus, there is a set destination of some kind. For us, that destination is Heaven, where we will behold God’s face for eternity and share in the joy of being united to the One who willed us into existence and surrounded us with his providential care during the course of our earthly lives. Until then, we trek in exodus, aided by the abundant help of the grace of our God.
Thank you for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 