Transfiguration of the Lord, Year B, Intermediate

Intermediate Session
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Mark 9:2-10

Opening Prayer

Let us pray.
Lord Jesus,
You showed your glory to Peter, James and John. We know that you are present with us, too. Help your glory shine through us as we show you to others through our own words and actions. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Opening Life Reflection

In a darkened room, light a candle and invite people to share how they see the glory of God in other faces illumined by the candlelight.

Listening to the Word of God
As it points toward the coming of the messiah, this passage from Daniel helps us (as it did the people of the early Church) to understand who Jesus is.

Read Numbers 6:22-27.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters
• Who are “The Son of Man” and “The Ancient One” in this reading?
• How do you think this passage would help new Christians understand Jesus and his relationship to God?
• How might this passage have given light to people before Jesus came into the world?

To help give the disciples courage for a time when Jesus would no longer be with them, Jesus showed Peter, James and John the glory of God through his brilliant transfiguration.

Read Mark 9:2-10.
Allow for silence.

• Why did Jesus take Peter, James, and John to the mountaintop?
• What did these disciples see while they were on the mountain?
• What did the disciples learn from this experience?

Scripture Background

Peter, James and John go with Jesus to a mountaintop. They see Jesus surrounded by light and become dazzling white. As this change is happening to Jesus, Moses and Elijah appear. The disciples are fascinated but frightened at the same time. Peter, still thinking “earth” wants to build three tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah. Besides these things that the disciples witnessed they also saw a cloud from which God’s voice came proclaiming Jesus as Son and commanding the disciples to listen to him. The disciples did not understand initially, but this transfiguration was a glimpse of what was to come for Jesus and all of us in God’s Kingdom.

Questions for Deeper Reflection
• Why did Jesus choose Peter, James and John to go up the mountain with him?
• Why is the transfiguration important for us to understand?
• In what ways do you see God’s Glory in the world today?

[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
God’s Revelation to Us
The fullness of God’s revelation comes to us through Jesus Christ. In his life, teaching, mission, death, and resurrection, Jesus reveals the love of God. The disciples were the first people to witness the events of Jesus’ life and these events were eventually written down. Scripture and tradition have become the source of our understanding of God’s love and plan for us. God has told us, through Jesus, all that we need to know to share in God’s Kingdom when Jesus returns to the world.

• How is God’s love for us shown through Jesus?
• What is our responsibility in order to share in God’s Kingdom?
• Name a way in which God has been revealed to you.

Sacrament Connection
When we receive communion we celebrate the once and for all sacrifice of Christ. It is in the Eucharist that we the memorialize Jesus’ death and Resurrection. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross and his Resurrection, become real and present in the celebration of the Eucharist.

The Gospel in Life
What will you do this week to show someone in darkness the dazzling light of Christ?