Catholic Radio Dramas

It is Good for Us to Be Here

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

From a sermon on the Transfiguration of the Lord by Anastasius of Sinai, bishop (d. c. 700)

It is Good for Us to Be Here

Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father.” Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as while as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.

These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express. Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and – I speak boldly – it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.

Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the Creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.

It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honor could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?

Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here – here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings

The account given in the Gospel of Mark: Mark 9:1-8

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain off by themselves, and was transfigured before them. And his garments became shining, exceedingly white as snow, as no fuller on earth can whiten. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

And Peter addressed Jesus, saying, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let us set up three tents, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were struck with fear.

And there came a cloud overshadowing them, and there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son; hear him.” and suddenly looking round they no longer saw anyone with them but only Jesus.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he cautioned them to tell no one what they had seen, except when the Son of Man should have risen from the dead.” Mark 9:1-8.

The account given in the Gospel of Luke: Luke:9: 28-36

“Now Jesus took Peter, James and John and went up the mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the appearance of his countenance was changed, and his raiment became a radiant white. And behold, two men were talking with him. And these were Moses and Elijah, who appearing in glory, spoke of his death, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.

Now Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep. But when they were fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. And it came to pass as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. And let us set up three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. But as he was speaking thus, there came a cloud and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son; hear him.” And after the voice had passed, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one at that time any of these things that they had seen.”

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Anastasius (d. c. 700) was a Greek writer born in Alexandria. He became a hermit on Mount Sinai and was appointed abbot of the community there. He was so zealous in his opposition to those attacking the Church, the monophysites, Monothelites, and Jews, he was called “the new Moses”, and “defender of the Faith.” He was an active and influential participant in the Christological controversies of his times and wrote several ascetical and theological treatises, one of which is presented above.