Today, after Peter’s confession, the evangelist Mark (as well as Mathew and Luke) narrates the Transfiguration episode. This is not a coincidence! In the whole of this event, while the Father “accredits” the Son, the connection between cross and glory —previously rejected by Peter— stands out: the cross is the exaltation of Jesus and His exaltation finds its place nowhere but in the cross.

The Transfiguration also appears as a prayer occasion: in the conversation of Jesus with the Father we understand the intimate empathy of His “being with the Father”, which turns into pure light. In His “being one with the Father”, Jesus Himself is “Light of Light”. At this moment we understand, also through our senses, who Jesus is in His deepest recesses, what Peter discovered in his confession: his own “being light” as the Son.

—O Mary, grant us the gift of opening our heart’s eyes to the mystery of God’s light and of feeling the joy of the sons of the light.