The Transfiguration: Homily by S. John Chrysostom Hom. 56 on Matt.

 

THE Lord had said much about dangers, much about his Passion, about the death and slaying of his disciples, and had laid many hard and grievous things upon them; and all these things concerned this present life and were nigh at hand; but the good things were to be expected and awaited: as, for example, that they should save their life if they had lost it; that he would come in the glory of his Father, and render the rewards. Now, in order to reassure them by sight, and to show them what that glory would be when he would come (at least, as much as they could comprehend in this present life) he showed it and unveiled it to them, to prevent any of them, especially Peter, from grieving over their own deaths, or that of the Lord.

AND see what he did when he discoursed on heaven and hell. For when he said, whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it, and when he said, He will reward every man according to his works, he indicated heaven and hell.

ALTHOUGH he discoursed on both, he allowed heaven to be seen by the eyes, but not hell; for although it would have been needful for men• who were unlearned and dull; these men were proved and instructed, and it was enough for them to be strengthened by better things. And this is much more becoming to him. But he did not leave out the other altogether, for sometimes he laid all the atrocity of hell as it were before their eyes, as in the parable of Lazarus, and in the account of the man who demanded back the hundred pence.

 CONSIDER Matthew's wisdom in not concealing the names of those who had the first places. And John very often does the same, as when he truly and diligently describes Peter's excellency. For neither envy nor vainglory had any place in this company of the Apostles. Why did he take only these? Because they excelled the others. Why did he do it, not straightway, but after six days? Lest it should upset others among his disciples and followers; therefore, he made no mention beforehand of those whom he was going to take with him.