The Teaching Of The Transfiguration

Nam post sex dies, Petrus, Jacobus et Johannes assumuntur seorsum, et in excelso monte consistunt. Ipsisque inspectantibus Dominus transfiguratur, et toto claritatis suae habitu circumsplendet. Et in hoc quidem facti genere, servatur et ratio et numerus, et exemplum. Nam post dies sex, gloriae dominicae habitus ostenditur: sex millium scilicet annorum temporibus evolutis, regni coelestis honor praefiguratur. Tribusque assumptis, de trium origine, Sem, Cham, et Japhet, futura electio populi ostenditur. Quod autem Moyses et ex omni sanctorum numero assistunt; medius inter legem et prophetas Christus in regno est; cum his enim Israel, quibus testibus praedictus est, judicabit: simulque ut et humanis corporibus decreta esse resurrectionis gloria doceretur, cum quando Moyses conspicabilis astitisset. Ipse autem Dominus fit nive ac sole candidior, supra opinionem scilicet nostram coelestis luminis splendore conspicuus. Petro autem, ut tria illic tabernacula fierent offerenti, nihil respondetur: nondum enim ut in hac gloria consisteretur erat tempus.  Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, In Evangelium Matthaei Commentarius, Cap XVII

After six days, Peter, James and John were taken up and stood together on a high mountain. With these looking on the Lord was transfigured and all his clothing was surrounded with brightness. And it was done in this way that it might serve reason, number and example. For after six days the Lord was shown in glory by his garments of the lordly state, the completion of six thousand years prefiguring the honor of the kingdom of heaven. And three were taken up to show, from the threefold origin of Shem, Ham and Japhet, the future election of the people. That Moses and another from all the number of the holy stood by, is Christ in his kingdom among the law and the prophets; and with these even Israel, whose testimonies spoke of him, shall be judged, and at the same time Moses openly standing by teaches the decree of the glory of the resurrection of human bodies. The Lord himself was made brighter than snow or sun, exceeding the splendor of our vision of the celestial lights. When Peter offered to make three tabernacles, there was no response; it was not yet time to establish this glory. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, from the Commentary On The Gospel Of Saint Matthew, Ch 17