How do you feel about your name? Does it have a special meaning? Do you know why your parents chose it for you? Perhaps we don’t think much about this but we’ll return to it a bit later.
The event in today’s Gospel – the Transfiguration – occurs at a time of significant change in Jesus’ life. Up to now he has been teaching and healing in the north of Palestine, especially in Galilee, where he was generally well-received. He knows he must go to Jerusalem where he will meet opposition, fear and even hatred from the Jewish leaders. He has tried to prepare his followers, telling them he will suffer and die and be raised again on the third day, but they don’t understand and will have none of that talk. So, at this point in his life, Jesus has a great need to feel the reassurance and presence of God with him on this path.
In today’s Gospel Matthew presents this very powerfully through the rich imagery and subtle references to the Hebrew Scriptures and Jewish tradition which Jesus knew well. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain: the Old Testament tells us that mountains are the privileged places of communion with God. Jesus becomes radiant and he is joined by Moses and Elijah, both prophets and leaders of ancient Israel. Moses and Elijah had both been asked by God to set out on challenging paths in order to carry out difficult missions. They were afraid and needed special reassurance and strength from God. So, the scene is set for Jesus’ profound experience of God’s presence, walking with him and giving him strength. This is one of the meanings of this Gospel.
Note the words that God, through the voice from the cloud, uses: This is my Son, the Beloved. So God’s name for Jesus is My Beloved Son. In the same way, God knows each of our names: the prophet Isaiah, speaking for God, tells us clearly I have called you by name, you are mine (Isaiah 43:1). God also assures each of us, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands (Isaiah 49:16). It is as though God has each of our names marked, tattooed in his palms, a reminder that God is always with us.