New Exodus - Fr. Gregory - August 6, 2023

Today we commemorate a Major Feast, the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The Gospel reading from Matthew 17:1-9 narrates when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain and was transfigured before them revealing His Divinity. Moses and Elijah appear and speak with Jesus leading Peter to ask if he should build three booths for them. Father Gregory encourages us to know scripture and reflects on the Old Testament readings from the previous night's Vespers, two taken from Exodus and the other from Leviticus. They speak of the Hebrews wandering for forty years on their way to the promised land, Moses from the cleft of a rock seeing God's back and the establishment of feasts. Peter, through his Epistle, reflects on the meaning of booths. Our bodies are temporary booths or huts on the way to a gloried body in the Kingdom of God. The purpose of life is to move toward a transfigured body and life. God's purpose for the Transfiguration was to strengthen the Apostles and let them know He was with them, just as He is with us.