This month we commemorate two important occurrences in the Church calendar: the Transfiguration of Jesus and the Assumption of Mary. Understanding the symbolism in Biblical descriptions of Jesus and Mary shed light on who they are.
First, the Transfiguration: “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.” Matthew 17: 1-2.
Jesus is revealed as he truly is, so resplendent that Peter did not want to leave. He offered to set up tents so they could remain on that mountain in the holy glow of God’s only Son. The description leaves no doubt he truly is divine.
The Assumption of Mary is not mentioned in the Bible directly. However, this Catholic dogma is derived from Revelation, where “the woman,” is understood to be referring to Mary, as well as personifying Israel and the Church.
“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Revelation 12: 1
How she’s clothed is very important because John, the author of Revelation, must rely on that allegorical medium to drive home the truth. She is clothed with the sun, and the sun has always been a figure of the glory of God. So he is making it clear Mary is clothed as the with the glory of God.
This woman is surrounded by God’s light, and so the sun here represents God’s strength, while the moon, instead, represents the lesser efforts of humanity. Why? Because the moon reflects the light of the sun.
The sun is a fitting representation of the glory of God and our dependence on him. Today, with our ability to control our environment, it’s important to be reminded of that.
Professor Lucie Green in her book 15 Million Degrees: A Journey to the Center of the Sun, shares new data about the sun, raising our consciousness of it’s role in our very existence.
“Not only does sunlight allow us to see,” she writes, “but it made our rocky planet habitable for millions of species of animals and plants. It grows our food, it drives our weather, and it can even be utilized to generate electricity to power modern society. Sunlight is amazingly versatile, but above all there is something about sunlight that means it is able to keep us alive. We literally could not live without it.”
Understanding symbolism the Bible, such as the sun and its light, gives us deeper understanding of the Bible’s inspired messages.
There is much to learn. If you are interested in growing in your faith through the Bible, visit our Bible study descriptions to find the right program for you: full studies, mini studies and presentations.
