“Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, 

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…

…behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, 

then from the cloud came a voice that said, 

‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;

listen to him.’”

While there are big ideas worth considering as we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, my heart and imagination are drawn to a somewhat smaller detail of today’s gospel. In this amazing and awe inspiring moment of revelation, only Peter, James, and John are present. Following tradition (there may be some other valid exegetical opinions), these are three of the first disciples called by Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Peter is the brother of Andrew and James and John are brothers, the sons of Zebedee (nicknamed by Jesus the “Sons of Thunder”). Peter is the “rock” upon which Jesus will build his church, denies him three times before the cock crows, walks on water (briefly), protests having his feet washed, and is restored to relationship with Jesus following the resurrection. Peter preaches the first sermon at Pentecost and becomes the first Pope, being crucified upside down in Rome in Nero’s Circus at the foot of Vatican Hill. James the Greater was the first apostle martyred for the faith (in the 12th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles), executed at the order of King Herod and killed by the sword. John is also the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (and, likely, the youngest), who was present at the foot of the cross and took Mary into his home. He was an evangelist, author of the fourth Gospel (as well as three other New Testament letters and the book of Revelation). He is the last of the apostles to die at an old age in Ephesus after his exile on the island of Patmos. John is the only apostle who didn’t die as a martyr. 

These three formed a sort of inner circle for Jesus. They were present here for the transfiguration, as well as, for the raising of Jairus’s daughter and in the Garden of Gethsemane. They were trusted companions and privileged friends. Jesus invested deeply in relationship with them and welcomed them into intimate moments of his own identity, authority, and suffering. Some have reflected that they represent the theological virtues of faith (Peter), hope (James), and love (John). Others have commented on the typology of Moses, who likewise had an inner circle of three (along with chiefs for each of the twelve tribes and 72 elders, as Jesus would have 12 apostles and send out 70/72 on mission). Jesus, then, is the new Moses. Still others have posited that Jesus’s foreknowledge of the future role these three would play in the life of the church led him to prepare them in a special way through these intimate experiences. They were very close to Jesus.

On a human level, I ponder why Jesus chose them to be so close to him. Certainly, it was in response to the Father’s will, but they must have been willing, open and eager. They must have also been especially authentic and genuine in their relationship with Jesus. I imagine, though imperfect, that they must have both trusted Jesus and been worthy of his trust. They would be moved by him, willing to change and grow, after Jesus’s own heart. It is then a personal question: would or could Jesus choose me? Would or could he choose you to be so close?