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.
Dominus-Iesus-est 