Transfiguration, Last Sunday in Epiphany, Quinquagesima

Celebrated on the last Sunday of Epiphany. Quinquagesima means 7 weeks (~50 days) before Easter.

During the Transfiguration, Jesus is shown to be "the Word." Historically, Jesus referred to the Scripture as "the Law and the Prophets," referencing a common idiom of the time for what we now call the Old Testament. Of these, Moses is clearly the "Lawgiver," and Elijah is the "Prophet." as explained by Origen the first time. By appearing with "the Law" (Moses) and "the Prophets" (Elijah), Jesus is shown to be fulfilling all of Scripture.

During the transfiguration, the three were discussing his "departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” The word departure is the same word Exodus. Jesus fulfills the type that Moses was, as the true leader out of bondage and into the Promised Land. Jesus leads the ultimate exodus. Jesus brings us out of the hard labor of sin, and he says, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus leads us through the wilderness of this world on our journey to the promised land of heaven. Thus Jesus is the super-Moses.

Likewise, Jesus fulfills the type that Elijah was. Elijah was the greatest prophet, and was prophesied to return in Malachi 4:5-6: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” The Hebrew term rendered decree of utter destruction refers to things devoted (or set apart) to the Lord (or by the Lord) for destruction. Thus Jesus is the super-Elijah.

When God the Father spoke of Jesus as being his son, he was giving him preeminence over those of the other two, who were merely servants. When only Jesus is left alone at the end, he is shown to be superseding the Old Covenant with himself, the New Covenant.