The Transfiguration (Greek: Metamorphosis)
26 July 2000 08:45
Another item from Derek Stone:
Caterpillars, do you want to become Butterflies?
‘God passed into man so that man might pass over to God’ (Irenaeus 130 a.d. in “Against heresies 3,10,2”)
Some time ago Catholic News services reported that Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople approached the Pope and suggested that as the Festival of the Transfiguration was the only major festival for the Orthodox which is this year held on the same date as for Catholics, 6 August, could it be celebrated together? The Pope responded positively.
Transfiguration in Light is that divinisation (theosis) that has been achieved by many saints. The festival of the Transfiguration on Mt Tabor points to this goal in the Christian lives of all of us for we have all “been called to be saints”. Was it mere chance this year that it was on Mt Tabor that all of us who could afford to attend the March TLIG conference, received for a second time the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ with the concurrence of the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem?
Read what Our Lord Jesus, through Vassula in October 1997, had to say concerning our personal transfigurations:
Vassula: “Suddenly it was as though Jesus … looked at the one who is
reading these lines. His face was solemn, His penetrating eyes glued on
the reader:” Jesus: ” …up to the present time you have not grasped
entirely My Heavenly Treasure. You have not penetrated … what I have
been offering you all the days of your life: the tremendous grace of
knowing Me in an intimate union, and tasting interiorly, in the nuptial
chamber of My heart, My sweetness and My divine kisses; happy those who
listen to Me and obtain this grace; woe to those (others) …
… it is good to do good works for Me and follow some devotions as well as acts of love, thanksgiving and reparation, but I would be greatly disappointed that you would die before you have known Me (Matt 7:21-23) … I will take you into the mysteries and the hidden secrets of Our Heart (the Trinity), you and Us will become inseparably united in Our Love for ever and ever.”
St Symeon the New Theologian of Constantinople (949-1022) in his poems and catechetical writings urges us to experience this transfiguration in light. In Melbourne Australia, Fr George A. Maloney S.J. who translated much of Symeon’s writings into English, in July 2000, during two talks at the Orientale Lumen conference, urged the West to accept this ready availablity of Divinisation (Theosis).
As it is unlikely that Jesus, Irenaeus, Symeon and George Maloney are all wrong, I suggest that around the world we follow our leaders and try to reflect this coming festival with its octave.
Derek Stone, Hobart, Tasmania
