Why Were Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration?

Dr. John Bergsma, author of "Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls", reflects on the mass readings for August 6, 2021. If you have any further questions about this or any topic, feel free to leave them in the comment section below!

Dn 7:9-10, 13-14
PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
2 Pt 1:16-19
Mk 9:2-10

[jeffstumpf]

Thank you, Dr. John. It makes sense now. Why hasn't this understanding been taught to the laity, before? We are hungry for deeper insight from our Church.

[capecodder]

I'm a 59 year old cradle Catholic and I never knew the significance of Moses and Elijah showing up at the transfiguration.
I loved your conversion story BTW; the one titled 3 reasons why I became Catholic (or similar wording). I've watched it several times over the past few years and have sent it to many people.

Dominus Vobiscum
Pax

[emilialyngdoh]

I always like to listen to you Dr John Bergsma

[SheldonDsouza]

Wow!!! Dr. Bergsma... Love that allusion and allegory.

[sarasofiacastro]

Thank you, Dr. Bergsma! And Thank you St. Paul Center! God bless all who hear the Word through you. 🙏🙏🙏

[kelly]

Cosmic royalty....that is beautiful. This teaching blew my mind. Thank you

[joolz]

I love the Transfiguration. Thank you for your teaching.

[lisam]

Thank you very much for this clear and great explanation. I went to catholic school up until 9th grade and this is the very first time that I hear the Transfiguration explained this way. Thank you again and God bless.

[raphaelpetersamat]

Thank you so much for the insight Dr.John n St.Paul Centre..
GOD Bless..all the way from Borneo, Malaysia.🙏

[angier.]

Thank you Dr. Bergsma. Godshine on you and on St. Paul Center.

[emilialyngdoh]

I waited for this feast the whole year, but in the end, on the very day of this beautiful feast of Light, I missed all its essence. I was suddenly lazy to pray and to connect myself that day.

[marieleahy]

Thank you so much for this explanation of the Transfiguration. It is great to see how the Old and the New Testaments are intertwined in this episode in the life of Christ. Greetings from Ireland. 🇮🇪

[erikatapia]

Beautiful! Thank you Dr. John 🙏🏻🙌🏼 God bless

[mazikode]

Thank you Dr Bergsma!! Happy feast of the Transfiguration and God bless you

[carolplan]

The Transfiguration - meditating on this my favorite miracle, I imagine myself in the presence of the three biblical, cosmic royalty, I would be frightened too as the three disciples who accompanied Jesus to Mt. Tabor.

[exotericidymnic]

Dr. Bergsma, regarding the assumption of Moses, the time honored tradition has been that Deuteronomy 33:21 refers to Moses being buried in the land of Gad.

[MsHburnett]

Interesting. Th comparison between Jesus between 2 saints in the transfiguration and Jesus between 2 sinners. on calvary .

[hallower]

Many things in the Bible have significance on multiple levels. The "Son of Man" seems to be such a title. It not only fulfills messianic prophecy but emphasizes the God took on human nature for our sake. That form is a consequence of (derivative of = "Son of") His great love for us.

I often see this mistake among theologians. They claim Jesus says something only to fulfill prophecy. But nothing the Lord does is an empty gesture, going through the motions merely to confirm a prediction. The actions have meaning in themselves, even apart from prophecy.

[ileana]

Thank you Dr Bergsma! Amazing explanation. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[AJKPenguin]

I'd like to think Christ's conversation with Moses and Elijah was the perfect example of the perfect man receiving intercession from two saints; they, in a sense of their interceding, helped prepare him, and hence the world, for the crucifixion and resurrection and glorification of the Truth.

I first heard about the Transfiguration as the guide for asking the saints their prayers a few years ago. I only pray the idea isn't too novel, but rather closer to antiquity in age. : )