ACC ~ Luke 9 v28 - 29
THE ORDER OF THE KINGDOM:
SUFFERING, THEN GLORY
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: âI say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste of death until they have seen the kingdom of God.â ⌠By the âkingdom of Godâ he means the sight of the glory in which he will appear at his revelation to the inhabitants of earth. He will come in the glory of God the Father and not in a humble condition like ours. How did he make those who received the promise spectators of a thing so wonderful? He goes up into the mountain taking three chosen disciples with him. He is transformed to such a surpassing and godlike brightness that his garments even glittered with rays of fire and seemed to flash like lightning. Besides, Moses and Elijah stood at Jesusâ side and spoke with one another about his departure that he was about, it says, to accomplish at Jerusalem. This meant the mystery of the dispensation in the flesh and of his precious suffering upon the cross. It is also true that the law of Moses and the word of the holy prophets foreshadowed the mystery of Christ. The law of Moses foreshadowed it by types and shadows, painting it as in a picture. The holy prophets in different ways declared beforehand that in due time he would appear in our likeness and for the salvation and life of us all, agree to suffer death on the tree. Moses and Elijah standing before him and talking with one another was a sort of representation. It excellently displayed our Lord Jesus Christ as having the law and the prophets for his bodyguard. It displayed Christ as being the Lord of the Law and the Prophets, as foretold in them by those things that they proclaimed in mutual agreement beforehand. The words of the prophets are not different from the teachings of the law. I imagine this was what the most priestly Moses and the most distinguished of the prophets Elijah were talking about with one another. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 51. [1]
[1] CGSL 227**.
THE EIGHTH DAY FORESHADOWS THE RESURRECTION
AMBROSE: You may know that Peter, James and John did not taste death and were worthy to see the glory of the resurrection. It says âabout eight days after these words, he took those three alone and led them onto the mountain.â Why is it that he says âeight days after these wordsâ? He that hears the words of Christ and believes will see the glory of Christ at the time of the resurrection. The resurrection happened on the eighth day, and most of the psalms were written âFor the eighth.â [1] It shows us that he said that he who because of the Word of God shall lose his own soul will save it, [2] since he renews his promises at the resurrection. [3] But Matthew and Mark say that they were taken after six days. [4] We may say this means after six thousand years, because a thousand years in Godâs sight are as one day. [5] We counted more than six thousand years. We prefer to understand six days as a symbol, because God created the works of the world in six days, [6] so that we understand works through the time and the world through the works. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.6-7. [7]
[1] Ps 6:1; 12:1 LXX and Vulgate.
[2] Lk 9:24.
[3] See Mt 16:25-27.
[4] See Mt 17:1; Mk 9:2.
[5] Ps 89:4 LXX.
[6] Gen 2:1.
[7] EHG 239-40*.
PETER, JAMES AND JOHN ARE SONS OF THE CHURCH
AMBROSE: Only three, three chosen, were led to the mountain. ⌠This perhaps means none can see the glory of the resurrection except he who has preserved the mystery of the Trinity intact with the undefiled purity of faith. Peter, who received the keys of the kingdom, [1] John, to whom his mother was entrusted, [2] and James, who was the first to mount a bishopâs throne, ascended. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.9. [3]
[1] Mt 16:19.
[2] Jn 19:27.
[3] EHG 240-41*.
Lk