How do we describe the cloud that descended on Jesus and the apostles? It has been called – and I like this – the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was here on the mountain; the Father’s voice was heard; and to complete the presence of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit manifested by the cloud.
Let’s do a deep look at the other images of “cloud” from the Old Testament. The first I would identify was with Abraham before the story that is our first reading. God was making a covenant with him and appeared as a pillar of smoke (or a cloud) and a flaming pot. It was at this time that Abram – his name had not been changed yet – received the promise that was fulfilled in Isaac, and shortly thereafter received the name change calling him Abraham, which means the Father of Nations. Abram was “in a trance” when he saw the cloud and pot. And that is the main point to hold onto. I will come back to this later.
The cloud also appears with Moses, and this is the most important example I want to explain. The cloud protected the Israelites when Pharaoh tried to pursue …read more
Source:: Fr. Frank Jindra’s Homily Podcasts
