“And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus — the aftermath: Moses and Elijah are gone, the cloud has lifted, the glory has receded. Only Jesus remains. The suddenly communicates the abruptness of the return to ordinary appearance — the transfiguration is over as completely and immediately as it began. The only Jesus remaining is itself the transfiguration's message: Moses and Elijah testify to him and depart; Jesus alone remains as the Father's beloved Son whose words the disciples must hear.
Church Fathers on Mark 9:8
After the consummation of the cross, the glory of the resurrection is shewn, that they, who were to see with their own eyes the glory of the resurrection to come, might not fear the shame of the cross.
And He takes with Him the three chief of the Apostles, Peter, as confessing and loving Him, John, as the beloved one, James, as being sublime in speech and as a divine; for so displeasing was he to the Jews, that Herod wishing to please the Jews slew him.
Our Saviour then when transfigured did not lose the substance of real flesh, but shewed forth the glory of His own or of our future resurrection; for such as He then appeared to the Apostles, He will after the judgment appear to all His elect.
Read all 15 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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