God’s original design for the world was good and operated without suffering an injustice. When sin entered, so did suffering. This was not part of God’s original plan. The transfiguration occurred shortly after Peter fi rst confessed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and that he would suffer and die. The close connection between the transfiguration and Peter’s confession is significant – the Messiah must suffer but glorification, not suffering, is his ultimate fate. This was reassurance for the disciples to see Jesus “changed” and “glorified” as they contemplated what was about to happen to Jesus and to them (a future of suffering for Christ). We are also expected to endure some suffering for Christ as Paul says in today’s second reading.
