The Road to Damascus

Good Morning, dear reader. Happy Friday. God has seen to it to awaken us this morning, so we are off to a good start! 

We briefly touched on the subject of Saul's conversion yesterday. Today we read the story of that conversion. Now Saul was not a good man. He struck fear in the hearts of those familiar with him. He spent his days seeking out anyone who had anything to do with Jesus and hauling them off to jail. This day was no different. Only now, Saul needed to go to other towns in search of more followers of Jesus. So he and a few cohorts set out for Damascus. Surely in a large city as this, there would be that many more people. As they are walking, Saul is suddenly blinded by a bright light and he hears a voice calling to him "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"(v4). The voice is none other than that of Jesus. Sometimes you just need to take matters into your own hands to fix a problem, and this is exactly what Jesus is doing. He blinds Saul, forcing him to rely on his friends to get him to Damascus. When they finally reach the city, Jesus calls on Ananias to go to Saul and see to his conversion. Jesus will work through Ananias in order to achieve this. Ananias isn't so sure of this. He knows how awful Saul is and is doubtful that he can be converted. But Jesus doesn't care. He knows He can save this man and bring him into the fold. So Ananias sets out on his task. Saul is so overwhelmed by it all that he is left no choice but to believe that this had been the work of Jesus. He is baptised and healed. Chalk another one up for "Team Jesus"! 

The study guide in my bible gives the best lesson on this story, so I will share it with you.

If Saul can be converted then surely God can use anything to advance the Divine Plan. Saul had been so diligent and unrelenting in his attack on Jesus' followers that his transformation from being an enemy and persecutor of the Gospel to being one of its most successful advocates is truly remarkable. Each version of this story serves to demonstrate Saul's legitimate role as teacher of the Gospel. He now has the authority to endorse such things as preaching to the Gentiles and excusing non-Jewish Christians from observance of the Jewish Law. 

With our reading in John, we are getting to the end of the Bread of Life discourse. The Jews don't understand that eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood isn't to be taken in the literal sense. It is symbolic. Just like when we take Holy Communion in church. The wine and the Eucharist are the symbolic gestures we use to remind us of what Jesus did for us on the cross. This way, we are partaking in what Jesus has offered to us so that we may be one with Him. 

It is truly amazing the ways that Jesus can use situations and people for good. It shows that no matter how bad things get, He can turn it around and use it for something good. We can never fall so far from His grace that we can't be rescued. We just need to be open to it. Once that healing takes place, we are truly transformed in His love. Show how Jesus has transformed you by always being a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection on today's readings: https://youtu.be/aZ9l2lGxKgU

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Good Evening, dear reader! I hope your day has been blessed. I do apologise for the lateness of this post. We have a lot to work through, so let's get started!! 

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Here is a little bit about how Devine Mercy Sunday came about:

"In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000. The Lord expressed His will with regard to this feast in His very first revelation to St. Faustina. Divine Mercy Sunday

is NOT a feast based solely on St. Faustina's revelations. Indeed, it is not primarily about St. Faustina — nor is it altogether a new feast. The Second Sunday of Easter was already a solemnity as the Octave Day of Easter. The title "Divine Mercy Sunday" does, however, highlight the meaning of the day." (1) 

In Acts, we see people from all over coming forward to be healed. People are laid in the street, awaiting the arrival of Peter. Word had spread of his healing of the disabled man and now these folks are hoping that even if a shadow of Peter falls on them, they will be healed. And this exactly what happens. But, this is not of Peter's doing. He is the vessel of Christ, granted the power through the Holy Spirit, to be able to heal all those who have come. This was truly an extraordinary day! So many of Jesus's faithful followers were blessed, converted and healed just by being near Peter. 

I will admit that when it comes to disecting the book of Revelation, I find it a bit tricky to understand. One has to know that pretty much everything written in the book cannot be taken literally. The work is entirely symbolic. According to the study guide in my Bible, verse 9 "suggests that John is on the Greek island of Patmos as a punishment for his witness to Jesus.", John is recounting a vision he had. It is this vision that brings him comfort during his punishment. It also is also seen as an encouragement to all who are opressed at this time. 

In this first vision, John is commanded to write what he sees, to the seven churches. He sees Christ in glory, whom he depicts in great imagery, John hears Jesus describing Himself in terms meant to encourage Christians by emphasising His victory over death. (2)

In John's Gospel, we once again see Jesus making an appearance to His followers. It is assumed that they were in Jerusalem at the time. The fact that they were in a locked room when Jesus appeared illustrates the fact that He was not in human form, but neither was He an apparition or a ghost. But His disciples understand that this is the risen Christ who stands before them. In verse 22, it states "He breathed on them and said to them 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" This refers to when God breathed on man and gave him life and now the disciples are given new spiritual life through Jesus Christ. 

"Thomas", this passage is how the phrase "Don't be a doubting Thomas" came to be. It literally means that unless you see something for yourself, you won't believe it. So, again, Jesus appears in a locked room, this time Thomas is present. Jesus allows Thomas to poke around Him so that he will believe that this is Jesus, that He has risen as He promised, and He was here with him now. But, you can see that Jesus is a bit put off by Thomas's doubts. He tells Thomas that the only reason he believed that Jesus was here was because he had seen Jesus, touched His wounds. If it weren't for that, Thomas would still be doubtful, 

This is the whole foundation of our faith. We do not need physical proof for us to believe. That is why it is called faith. Yes, on ocassion we may receive signs or symbols of Jesus in our lives, but we don't need those to believe in Him. We KNOW He lives. We know He is with us always. 

Let us pray for those who do not know the wonder of Jesus Christ. Pray for those whose very lives have become uprooted due to war. Pray that our world can find peace. And, remember, dear reader... be a nice human.😇 

Miracles and Wonders

Good Morning, dear reader, and happy Friday!! It would seem that our readings this morning are full of the hope that resurrection brings!! And, again, Jesus is looking for food! lol 

Our message in Acts is one of faith over fear! The people are no longer afraid of persecution and there are now even more followers of Christ! We see that nothing can stop the power of Christ! Isn't that amazing?!!?!?!! Like most people in history, it is only in death that they become famous!! Jesus is starting to become like a rock star! More and more crowds gather, more and more believers are coming forward, yearning for more. The members of the Sanhedrin were becoming worried. Peter's speech to them was brave and bold! These men may have physically killed The Messiah, but He is so powerful that even death couldn't stop Him! And to further illustrate this point, the man who had been healed of his disability shows up, and he's standing up!!! Can you just imagine the look on the faces of those men in the Sanhedrin!?!!? This guy was living proof of the immense power of Christ! You can't hide that or cover it up!! 

The quote I shared in the above image is precisely the idea of our reading in Acts. Don't be afraid to share your faith. Don't be afraid to speak out with His name! Let His word spread to others so that they may share in the loving wonder of Jesus Christ! Be His disciple, His follower! Let your faith shine like a beacon for others to see! 

Now, on to John's Gospel, we hear about the miracle of the fish and Jesus once again showing Himself to His disciples. This time, however, they did recognize that this was Jesus making Himeself known to His disciples. They were no longer afraid. 

The men had been on the beach trying to catch enough fish in order to feed everyone. They left the nets to soak overnight in hopes of a good harvest, but the fish just weren't biting. So now, as the sun is coming up, there's Jesus, ready and waiting to help them out. He tells them where to cast their nets so they will get plenty of fish. While they're doing that, Jesus builds a fire and prepares to eat. I guess being raised from death made Him hungry! 

When the men tried to pull in the net, it was so full of fish that they just couldn't lift it. More men came over to help and together they pull in the multitude of fish. The weight of the fish should have put a strain on the net and possibly cause it to rip, but it never happened. There was more than enough fish to feed the whole town for quite some time. In this tale, we see the symbolism of the Last Supper, with Jesus breaking the bread. Jesus was telling them, through the food, that He can quench any hunger, that this food should remind them that He gave up His physical body for them so they could have eternal life in heaven. 

Wow! These have been some powerful stories! Death is overcome, hunger is satisfied, faith is strengthened, and hope abounds! If this doesn't make you rejoice, nothing will! There is no denying the awesome power of Jesus Christ! If you need proof, well then, there it is! Spend some time today to really meditate and think about these readings. What is your soul hungering for? Is there anything you think is hopeless or difficult? Ask Jesus for nourishment. Let His love and His words fill you up. And use this as a reminder to be a nice human! 😇

Father Bill explains today's reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV8ED4xU-PQ&ab_channel=hsccwyo

A reminder of who I AM is, "I Am" by Mark Schultz: https://youtu.be/hILaSh78yHQ

Good Friday

Good afternoon, dear reader. We certainly had a lot to read and digest today. Our readings reminded us of the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us, for all our sins. It was a heavy burden for Him to carry, yet He willingly did it. 

Our reading in Isaiah is the fourth installment of "the suffering servant". These stories can be looked at as God's message of sending His son, of Jesus being the suffering Servant. Jesus was sent here to save the people from sin, to bring them into divine unity with the Father and Son. But first Jesus would have to suffer through much in order for all of this to happen. Each detail is laid clear in this reading. There is nothing left to doubt or question. 

In Hebrews, we see Jesus being referred to as the high priest; one who is compassionate and understanding. He knew what it felt like to be cast aside, to be looked down on, to be ignored. These qualities made Jesus more approachable. He wasn't some high king who ruled over people but paid them no attention. He was among the people. He was one of them. I think this is why people found it easier to come to Him, to be with Him. They knew they would not be turned away. They would be welcomed and cared for within His presence. 

The final reading in John is the Passion of Christ. It is always a difficult one to get through. It is heart breaking to see how Christ suffered, even though He knew this was to be His lot in this world. 

Good Friday always makes me reflective, to look inward, to be with Jesus as He is arrested and nailed to the cross. To be at His feet as He is suffering. I still go about my day, but I think of Him always. When the clouds rolled in around 3pm, I knew it
was the hour of His death. The universe cries. The world cries. I cry. I made a simple post on Facebook. "It is finished" with the image I have shared here. That was it. Nothing more. Just those three words. There really wasn't anything more to be said. John 19:28 sums it all up "After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled...."

As I read through the Passion, I find it interesting how Pontius Pilate did not think Jesus guilty. When the people chanted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!", Pilate really
wanted no part in it "take Him yourselves and crucify Him. I find no guilt in Him" (Jn 19:6,NAB). But, Pilate buckled under the pressure. He was reminded that if he fell inline with Jesus, if he declined to have Him crucified, then he would also be seen as an enemy of Caesar. He wasn't brave enough to risk the consequences. How many of us have done that? Seen something wrong, but stayed silent for fear of repurcussions? I'm sure it is something we are all guilty of, including me. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up for what you believe in, for what you see is an injustice. It's so much easier to just go with the crowd. I'm sure in Pilate's case, it had to have caused him many a sleepless night. 

I hope, in whatever you have done today, you were mindful of the solemnity of the day. I hope you made some sort of action in acknowledging Jesus's death. It doesn't have to be anything grand. It could be as simple as what I did today. And, I hope, dear reader, that in whatever you did today, you were a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection for today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7sepV2EJpU

I am sharing this version of "Lead Me To The Cross" because it really makes you realize what Jesus went through. ***I will warn you ahead of time,it is quite graphic. It is taken from the movie "The Passion". I still have a difficult time watching it. But, isn't that the whole point of our faith? To bear things that are difficult? To face what we do not wish to face? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2t2_8nRH8

On being a nice human

Good morning, dear reader and a blessed Sunday to you. This is our last Sunday of the Lenten season. Next Sunday we begin the Passion of Christ, where we will see the story of His death and resurrection begin. 

We begin this morning with the prophet Isaiah. God is speaking to the people, reminding them that He is the God who makes way for all. He is the one who rules the oceans and the lands. He is also the one who punishes the wicked and rewards the just. He reminds us that He is the one who created us in His image. He is the one who puts on us the task of spreading His word. 

God also reminds us that we are not to focus on the things of the past. What's done is done. We are to savour today and enjoy the things He has given us. He has provided the life-giving waters of His words to help us on this journey. Without that, we become like the baren desert. We need to start each new day with His word, His instruction. It is through these words that we are to conduct ourselves and our life; to remind all that He is responsible for our being here. 

Philippians is one of my favourite books in the Bible. It was written by the apostle Paul, who, at the time, was in prison for spreading the word of Jesus, facing his imminent death. He is using this letter to guide the faithful Christians on how to live a life that speaks of Jesus. He is recounting his thankfulness for his conversion at Damascus (Acts 9:1-31). Paul is reminding us that we need to always remain thankful and humble for all that we have found in Jesus. To remember that it is not the material things in life that count, but our faith in Jesus is what is important. 

Moving on to our reading in John. We see Jesus is teaching the people who have come to the temple to listen to Him. In the middle of this, a group of men barge in, hauling with them a woman who they have caught committing adultry. They know that this is a mortal sin that breaks one of the great commandments. This sin must be punished. The men want to use this event as a way to solidify their case against Jesus. They're basically saying that Jesus knows this is a sin, that the woman needs to be punished, and if He doesn't punish her, then He is breaking the law as well. But their plan backfires. Jesus tells them that the person who is blameless, who is without sin, should be the first one to stone the woman. At this point, I imagine the gentlemen must've looked at each other, realising that none of them are as lily white as they claim to be. They slowly shuffle out of the temple, leaving the woman and Jesus alone. Jesus then looks at the woman and asks her where are the people who said she is guilty? Are they still here? He tells her that He is not here to judge her. He forgives her sins, tells her to be good and not do it again. He is giving her a second chance to change her life. I'm sure the woman was grateful and would not take a chance on her life again. 

All of this reminds us that we owe our lives to our Creator. That Jesus took our sins with us to the cross. All we need to do in return is live our lives according to the laws that God set before us. When we sin, and we will, we need to admit to what we have done wrong and ask forgiveness, promising that we will try to do better. This does not mean we are free to go and do it again, ask forgiveness again.. it doesn't work that way. If we constantly do the things we know are wrong, then we are not truly sorry for having done it. Those actions WILL be punishable. As the saying goes, we reap what we sow. And that, dear reader, is what I mean when I say be a nice human. Treat others as you wish to be treated, let your life speak of your faith, and be thankful every day. 

Enough of my preaching.. go out there and spread love and kindness. Be a nice human to all you meet!! 😇

Here is a video for the song "To The Cross" by Paul Baloche:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mzqwnAvpTQ

A Leap of Faith

Good morning and a blessed Saturday to you, dear reader. I hope this finds you well. As we draw near to Holy week, we look at what it is to have faith and allow God to guide us each day.  

In today's world, it's not an easy task to be a Christian. There are so many ways which will lead us astray of God and His plans for us. Sometimes it can feel like we are the lambs being led to slaughter. How many times have you done something, then regretted it, because "it seemed like a good idea at the time"? I know I'm guilty of it. I imagine God must be banging His head up there, wondering what it will take to get us to listen. He keeps trying to send people to deliver His message, but people being people, we often don't pay attention. Sometimes it takes a holy uprising, so to speak, to get us to realize that we've lost our way. 

I think that God decided to send down Jesus to us to see if maybe a "kinder and gentler" approach might work better. Sometimes that old fire and brimstone just don't cut it. Jesus preached forgiveness and peace. But, still, people would not listen. Who was this Man who talks a good a game? He's not from around here. We are suspicious of strangers. They must have some sort of ulterior motive. They're looking for something. Jesus was the ultimate stranger in a strange land. 

Sometimes we can't see what's in front of us. Maybe there is no "end game", maybe
there is no ulterior motive. Sometimes it is what it is. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck! And that's what Jesus is.. He's our duck. He is what He appears to be. A simple Man, sent from God, on a mission. 

That's what we see here, in John's reading. Word of Jesus has spread far and wide. But people are still doubtful. He speaks so eloquently and with conviction. He is cool and confident. Some are willing to risk it and not believe He is who He says He is. But, still others, not so much. Maybe this is Him. Just because He's not from around here doesn't mean it can't be Him. Just because He speaks with such knowledge and compassion.... 

When we believe in Jesus, we have to take that leap of faith. We have to trust that Jesus is who He says He is. I can personally atest to the fact that I have a hard time just saying ok, Lord, take this and YOU deal with it because I can't. Will He really do it? What will happen if I don't do anything except rely on Him to fix it? But that's what it means to have faith. That's what it means to believe. That's what it is to be a follower of Jesus. We step out of that fear, that darkness, that uncertainty. 

Today, try and have a bit of a conversation with Jesus. Give whatever your burden is to Him. Take that leap of faith. He will hear you. I promise. And, as always, dear reader... be a nice human. 😇

***Pray and meditate on Psalms 142 and 143***

Have a listen to Father Bill. He pretty much speaks of what I have written. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u86ozLIx4AI 

Some musical encouragement, Chris Tomlin "I Lift My Hands"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c24En0r-lXg

Healing Waters

Good Afternoon, dear reader. A little late with this today, but better late than never! Today we look at the healing powers of water. We all know that without water, we will perish. Water nourishes our body as well as flushing out harmful things in our systems. We know that all living things require water for life. Water IS life. And that's why water is mentioned throughout the Bible. 

We see stark contrasts of what happens when there is too much water or too little. There are floods, unending rain, streams, rivers, oceans... We also see what happens when there isn't enough water. Things dry up, fade away, die off, unending thirst. We cross ourselves with holy water when we enter church, a priest may spread holy water as he proceeds up the aisles, blessing us as he goes. When we are baptised, we are either submerged briefly in water or it is poured over us. It's amazing how something so simple is so important. 

Water can also be the symbol of God's word. His word quenches our thirst and renews our spirit. It gives us peace and reassurance. Water is also seen as a symbol of Jesus and His unending love and ability to heal. In John's Gospel, we see the man who had been ill for thirty eight years. He had no one to carry him to the water to be healed. But Jesus said to the man "Rise, take up your mat and walk" (John 5:8, NAB). The man stood up and realized he had been healed. The man realized that Jesus WAS the water he needed. He believed, he listened and he was healed. If we look further on in John's Gospel, we see Jesus likening Himself to water, "Let anyone who thirsts come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture says, 'Rivers of living water will flow from within him.'" (John 7:37-38, NAB). I could go on and on. But, you get the point. 

Water is a powerful symbol. Never underestimate its power. Pour it out, drink it, wash in it, be blessed by it. The next time you get a glass of water, or a bottle of water, hold it for a moment, really look at it. Remind yourself of its importance to life. And be reminded of Jesus. Be thankful for all of it. And, as always, dear reader...be a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection on today's readings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezPWTLZ4KFU

Mercy and Forgiveness

Good afternoon friends! Happy Tuesday! Our readings today emphasise the goodness of God's mercy and forgiveness, but also reminds us that our faith in the Lord MUST be unconditional. We can't say that we follow Christ, that we believe in Christ, except...._______ (insert excuse here).  

When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego* refused to worship the statue created by King Nebuchadnezzar, it was because they held on to their belief in God. They would not abandon Him to save their own selves. Upon hearing this refusal, the king had them thrown into a white hot furnace. The three men prayed and exhalted God. They knew that they had done things in their lives that didn't exactly live up to what God expected. They knew they were sinners (as we all are sinners). They felt that this was God's judgement on them. However, they also understood that it lay in God's hands to forgive them, as He had promised "For Your name's sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void Your covenant." (Dn 3:34, NAB). What these men did is what we should do every time we pray. We are asking for God's mercy on our souls. We understand that there will be some form of punishment for what we did, but we freely give ourselves to be washed clean in the blood of Christ. 

In that same vane, in Matthew, we hear about forgiveness and mercy, but we look at our own ability to forgive. Peter asks Jesus how many times he is expected to forgive others. Although Jesus answers with "seventy-seven times", He doesn't mean that after you have forgiven the seventy-seventh time, you're off the hook. It's meant to illustrate that we are to forgive always. 

The story of the king who showed mercy to his servant by cancelling his debts is a great illustration of this. There was an unspoken expectation that just as the king cancelled the debt of his servant, the servant was to show that same mercy to others. When he found out that the servant punished those who owed him, the king felt that this man had taken advantage of his kindness. He demanded that this man needed to be punished for what he had done (which is only fitting, really).

At the end of the story, Jesus reminds Peter "So will My Heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." (Mt 18:35, NAB). The point here is that God's absolution is already bestowed upon us. However, if we refuse to forgive others as God has forgiven us, that mercy will be withdrawn upon our final judgement. We will be held accountable and justly punished.

It's not easy to forgive others who have hurt us. I know I still hold much resentment for past hurts. We all do. We wouldn't be human, really, if we didn't. We are supposed to show the same mercy to others that God shows to us. But, sometimes, this can be so difficult to do. That hurt just runs too deep and it's been there for too long. Still, at some point it needs to be let go of. If you are having a hard time with it, pray to God to help you to release it. In time, it will become easier to just let it go. Let Go and Let God.

I found this prayer and thought I would share it with all of you. Ask God to help you.

Be blessed my friends. And, as always..... be a nice human. 😇

Father Bill's reflection on today's readings: https://youtu.be/6CVpZxp6b6Q

A great song by Matthew West about forgiveness: 

https://youtu.be/FMn0QNdiuGE

*Abednego.. King Nebuchadnezzar had changed his name from Azariah (which means "Yahweh has helped.") to Abednego.  The boys' names were changed as a way of encouraging them to forget the God and traditions of their homeland and conform to the ways and gods of Babylon.

Transfiguration Sunday

Good Morning lovely people. Today is known as Transfiguration Sunday. As I am no bible scholar, I decided to go with a better explanation from the old interwebs. But, I will go with this... Allow yourself, today, to be transformed by Jesus' love for you. Allow Him to walk with you daily. As I always say, walk in your faith. The more you do this, the easier it will become. You will become the example of Jesus' love for all. 

"After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.." Mark 9:2-9

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ

This biblical event appears in each of the Gospel books as an important moment in the life of Jesus and evidence of his divinity. After Jesus performs a series of miracles and foretells His own death, Jesus leads just three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, to a "high mountain." This is where the Transfiguration takes place in which his appearance was radiantly transformed. 

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a powerful demonstration of His divine nature and manifestation of His glory, which Jesus possessed prior to coming to earth in the human body. This revelation is referenced in a passage in the Apostle Paul's message to Phillippi. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11 KJV). 

It's impossible to appreciate what's going on with the Transfiguration unless you consciously factor in the reality that that remarkable scene takes place just a few days after Jesus had, for the very first time, told his disciples He was going to die. And when he told his disciples, in Matthew 16:21, He was going to die, they were offended and scandalized. Peter, speaking for the group, grabbed Jesus and said, "far be it from you [to die], it can't happen." Jesus was, of course, upset with Peter and told him, "you savor the things of man and not of God." 

This (Transfiguration) is about three years into a three and a half year ministry. This is after for months and years those disciples had followed Jesus, they had seen his miracles, they had done miracles in His name. They knew something palpably and objectively about the power and the reality of who Jesus was, and yet, when He began to talk about dying it was staggering to the disciples and they began to wonder if He was really the Messiah. Therefore, for that reason, Jesus took three, Peter, James and John, into a high mountain apart, away from the other apostles. 

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John into a very secluded place and He begins to pray. He asked the disciples to pray and they fall asleep. Then, as they wake up, they see Jesus standing before them with an ineffable (indescribable) manifestation of light and glory which will be His when he reigns as King in days to come. He had laid aside that external glory and for just a few minutes as they watched they see him transfigured (metamorphized is the Greek word). The point is that the caterpillar had become a butterfly, the one who had so carefully veiled his physical glory took it to himself for a brief moment. The whole purpose of that experience was to reinforce the staggering faith of those apostles. That's exactly what Peter gets out of it when he remembers it and says we did not bring you cunningly devised fables, we made known to you the power of Jesus because we were with Him in the holy mountain. We know He is Messiah and will reign as Messiah because we saw His physical glory. 

The point of the Transfiguration was to reinforce the staggering faith of the apostles. As Jesus, Peter, James, and John return from the mountain, they find the other apostles trying to drive a demon out of a man and unable to do so. When they ask why the exorcism won't work, Jesus says it is because of their staggering faith. In the context, what is it that has staggered their faith? It was Jesus' message that He is going to die and that is exactly what the Transfiguration is all about. In such an interesting and compelling way, the Transfiguration illustrates what a careful, sensitive, creative and resourceful teacher Jesus was. 

He had been trying to get His impending death across to the disciples and sees how desperately crippled they are by the announcement. So He is sensitive enough, some days later, to provide that sort of a condescending object lesson, where God condescends to give him that physical glory just to reinforce their faith. 

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-was-the-transfiguration-of-jesus.html