Transfiguration

Upon a lofty mountain top, the Lamb

OF God, along with Peter, James and John

Hidden from view and purpose yet unknown

Unto the three disciples, now before

Their eyes, the Lamb of God appeared to them

With face now shining brighter than the sun

Beauty supreme and majesty sublime

A brightness of pure searing radiance

To render human sight as nothing more

Than blinded human sense, incapable

Of coping with this light that struck with fear

The sight of the disciples, more so now

As with the face, so now the garments of

The Lamb of God reflected that same light

His whole being too bright to look upon

As if reflecting Heaven’s perpetual light.

Unto the Lamb of God, there now appeared

Before Him, Moses and Elijah who

Now spoke with Him. Their conversation we

May know not. Yet Moses led the Hebrews

From slavery in Egypt to the land

That flowed with milk and honey, Promised Land

To give them freedom. So the Lamb of God

Would in due time bring freedom to all those

Who put their faith and trust in him in all

Their days on earth and finally receive

A crown of righteousness in Paradise.

Likewise Elijah, prophet of Yahweh

Who invoked Yahweh’s holy name to send

Down fire upon the altar he had built

To set Carmel ablaze and bring to nought

The homage paid to Baal and Asherah

And finally be carried up to Heaven

In chariot of fire, so may we too

Be set ablaze with fire from above

The fire of the Holy Spirit who

Would rest on the Apostles. So may He

Set hearts on fire with love and service to

The Triune God, who is forever praised.

Yet now confusion reigned within the heart

Of Peter who, while recognising those

Who stood before him, let his speech run wild

With talk of shelters, one for each of them.

Yet he was talking out of fear which gripped

His heart and those of his companions too.

A fear made greater by a bright cloud which

Covered them, and from which now came the voice

Of Yahweh, giving credence to the Lamb

Of God, said: “This is my Son, whom I love;

With Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

This recognition and royal command

Which caused the three disciples to fall down

With faces to the ground, hearts terror-filled;

May it cause us to listen and obey

And bring the Lord into our hearts each day

To set our hearts on fire with love for Him.

The Lamb of God, knowing their fear-filled state

Touched them and said: “Get up, don’t be afraid.”

On looking up, their hearts became becalmed

For only Jesus stood amongst them now.

But for a moment they had all but glimpsed

The majesty and glory of Yahweh

Shown in His Son who, in his time on earth

Had laid aside the glory that is His

In Paradise, for now he spoke to warn

Them to keep silent in what they had seen

And heard, until the Son of Man is raised

From death’s dark shadow; resurrection true.