The Law: Version 2.0. The Law of Love.

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Luke 9:28-36) has many parallels with the giving of the Law to Moses in the Old Testament:

[28] Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. [29] And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white.  [30] And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli’jah,  [31] who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. [32] Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. [33] And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli’jah” — not knowing what he said. [34] As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. [35] And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” [36] And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

God, ever purposeful, has built some amazing parallels between the giving of the Law to Moses and the Transfiguration account in Luke (and Matthew: Matt 17:1-13):

• Both occur on a mountain: Mount Tabor in the Transfiguration account and Mt. Sinai in the Old Testament (Exod 24:13).
• Both Jesus and Moses have three companions with them (Exod 24:1).
• The faces of Jesus and Moses both shine with the Glory of God (Exod 24:29).
• Both accounts include the Glory Cloud of God.
• Both accounts have God, the Father, speaking with a heavenly voice (Exod 24:16).

Moses received the Law on Sinai; Jesus is ushering in a New Law, a Law that fulfills the Old (CCC 1968) but surpasses it (CCC 1967).  The New Law, or New Covenant, is the giving of the Grace of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1966) and ups the ante to direct Man to keep the New Commandment to love God and Neighbor (CCC 1970).

The New Law is the Law of Love.

Jesus Christ does things in remarkable ways, across the entire history of Salvation.  We shouldn’t be surprised.  He is God, after all.