“We ourselves heard this voice from heaven while we were in his company on the holy mountain.” (2 Pet 1:18)
“Lord, how good that we are here!” Peter, tired of living in the midst of the crowd, had found solitude on the mountain, where his soul was nourished by Christ. Why leave this place to go to fatigue and suffering, since he was burning for God with a holy love and by that very fact was sanctifying his life? He wanted this happiness for himself, so much so that he added: “With your permission I will erect three booths here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”…
Peter wanted three tents. The answer that came from heaven showed that we have only one: the Word of God is the Christ, the Word of God is in the Law, the Word of God is in the prophets… The moment the cloud enveloped them all and formed, so to say, one single tent above them, a voice came out of it… The one whom the voice revealed is the one in whom the Law and the prophets glory: “This is my beloved Son on whom my favor rests. Listen to him.” For you listened to him in the prophets, you listened to him in the Law, and where did you not hear him? When they heard those words, the disciples fell to the ground.
In falling to the ground, the apostles symbolize our death…, but in raising them up, the Lord symbolizes the resurrection. And after the resurrection, of what use is the Law? Of what use is prophecy? From that moment, Elijah disappeared and Moses disappeared. What remains for you is: “In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.” (Jn 1:1) The Word remains for you so that God might be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).
Come down, Peter. You wanted to rest on the mountain… Now the Lord himself is telling you: “Come down to labor and to serve in this world, to be looked down upon and crucified in this world.” Life came down to be put to death, the bread came down to endure hunger, the way came down to become tired on the path, the spring came down to endure thirst, and you refuse to suffer? Don’t seek your profit. Practice charity, proclaim the truth. Then you will reach immortality, and with it, you will find peace.