Hope and the Transfiguration

In qua transfiguratione illud quidem principaliter agebatur, ut de cordibus discipulorum crucis scandalum tolleretur; nec conturbaret eorum fidem voluntariae humilitas passionis, quibus revelata esset abscondita excellentia dignitatis. Sed non minore providentia spes sanctae Ecclesiae fundabatur, ut totum corpus Christi agnosceret quali esset commutatione donandum, et ejus sibi honoris consortium membra promitterent, qui in capite praefulsisset. De qua idem Dominus dixerat, eum ed adventus sui majestate loqueretur: Tunc justi fulgebunt sicut sol in regno Patris sui; protestante hoc ipsum beato Paulo apostolo, et dicente: Existimo enim quod non sunt condignae passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam, quae revelabitur in nobis; et iterum: Mortui enim estis, et vita vesta abscondita est cum Christo in Deo. Cum enim Christus apparuerit vita vestra, tunc et vos apparebitis cum ipso in gloria. Sanctus Leo Magnus, Sermo LXXVIII

The Transfiguration was principally performed to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of the disciples, that their faith should not be troubled by the humiliation of His voluntary Passion by the revelation of the excellence of His hidden dignity. But with no less foresight was laid the foundation of the hope of the Holy Church, that the whole body of Christ might know the character of the change which would be given, and that the members might have confidence in a share in that honour which had shone forth in their Head. To which the Lord referred when He spoke of the majesty of His coming: 'Then will the righteous shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father,' 1 and the blessed Apostle Paul gives witness to the same thing, saying, 'For I judge that the sufferings of this time are not worthy of the future glory which will be revealed in us.' 2 And again, 'For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. For when Christ your life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.' 3 Pope Leo the Great, from Sermon 78  1 Mt 13:43  2 Rom 8:18  3 Col 3:3