Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.

Any time we get to read about one of the mysteries of the rosary, there is so much that could be discussed. But today I am going to focus on the litteral transfiguration of Jesus. When Jesus changed before his disciples, I believe that He was giving them a foretaste of heaven. Some church fathers believe that Jesus was litterally transfigured before them, others believe that this was how Jesus was always, but that He kept the full vision of His full glory hidden from them until this moment (just like on the road to Emmaus). In either situation, it is clear that Jesus could not do his ministry if He was walking around glowing and dazzingly white. But this moment must have served as a great consolation to the apostles after the death of Jesus, and His accension. Confirmation, if you will, about the divinity of who Jesus really was.

But there is another aspect of this reading that I find extremely heartening. We, as christians, are also promised a new ressurected body at the end of time at the final judgement. We are not exactly sure what happens to the soul before the final judgement, But when we die, and go up to heaven, we probably live like the angels, disembodied spirits, waiting for the end of time and final judgement. But When Jesus returns to earth, revelation tells us that all of the dead will rise, and be given new bodies, and stand before the lord for Judgement. The good and the evil will be separated, and the wicked will be sent to hell body and soul to suffer for all eternity, but the good will have their bodies glorified, and will join God in the restored world, and will live with Him forever in his Kingdom of Heaven.

What the gloried body will look like is unclear, but we know it will be human, and it will be a real, touchahable physical body. Will it be dazzling white, I dont know, but it will be perfect, without aches and pains, and it will be in perfect harmony with our minds and our will. This is such an exciting thing for me to contemplate. I dont like the aches and pains of daily life, and I hate feeling like I cant control myself with regard to food, and other pleasures. Thomas Aquinas has spoken about what he thinks this glorified body will be like, and he says that it will have certain attributes that our current bodies do not currently have. Glorified bodies are incorruptible (incapable of decay) and impassible (incapable of suffering), and impeccable (incapable of sin), but most importantly they will hold the form that is most in line with our vision of ourselves ordered by our relationship to God and His will for our lives. It is the perfect alignment of our will and Gods will at the same time.

But the most exciting thing about glorified bodies, is that we will get to walk with Jesus in the garden of heaven! To have a real person to person relationship with him, and to physically know him like I do any of my family or friends. This possibility fills me with so much hope and joy that I cant contain it. So many questions to ask, so many things to say thank you for, so much love to share.

As the song by macy grey goes, “love the life I’m given but Im lookin forward to the day I Die, Oh my god, I cant wait to meet you”. Until then lets look upon the dazzling white transfigured body of Jesus and pray for the same thing in our own lives.

Oh lord, please help me today to make one change that brings me closer to you, and to that incredible plan you have for our lives. Amen.