After six days 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. 

Matthew 17:1-3

The event described in this passage from Matthew’s gospel is called the Transfiguration. His radiant appearance is a vision that reveals the divinity of Jesus, meaning Jesus is both fully God and fully human. The appearance of Moses and Elijah reinforce that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to save his people.

That Jesus is both fully God and fully human means the story of Jesus will include the experience of both glory and honor as well as suffering and death. As we grow as disciples of Jesus, we learn to see our own story — our accomplishments, successes, failures, suffering, and death — in the light of his story.

Today, pray for those in your life who are experiencing suffering or the effects of losing a loved one.