Life and light

Gospel MT 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, 
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them; 
his face shone like the sun 
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here, 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, 
then from the cloud came a voice that said, 
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes, 
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone 
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

The spiritual message of today's gospel didn't become clear to me until I read the second reading for today:

Reading 2 2 TIM 1:8B-10

Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest 
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.

Both readings are strong reminders of who Christ is and what His life and death mean to us.  He has released us from the death-grip of sin and has breathed eternal life into our broken hearts.  Jesus is God's grace in the flesh.  The gospel shows how limited we are in truly understanding this - Peter, James, and John heard God's voice in all of its glory and were afraid.  How could they not be overwhelmed by the Creator of the universe?  But little by little, God gives us glimpses of Himself.  More and more we are reminded of who He is and how much He loves us.  A life of holiness, means that I receive God's love with an open heart - there's nothing I could ever do to deserve so much.