Day 17 – September 23, 2026 – Matthew 17

We find a strange aggregation of stories, but the first of them, the transfiguration, probably the most impactful. Keep in mind that just about everything that Jesus does while on earth is reflected somewhere in the Old Testament as something that either a leader of the Israelites did, or a prophet, or something that someone of importance did before he did it. Going up a mountain and having yourself transformed and transfigured is very much something that Moses did. So much so, that the Hebrew word for his face shone and he had horns is pretty much the same. This is why we have this depiction by Michaelangelo of Moses.

God speaking from the heavens reminding Peter that He is in control and will dictate that which comes next is a great reminder for us as we try to tell God how things ought to be. But also with the transfiguration we see a scene that leads to another, where in Mark Jesus cures a boy with a demon. This is depicted well in one of my favorite paintings that you can see below which is found in St. Peter’s in Rome. This one is done by Raphael, not the turtle, but the artist.