Feast of the Transfiguration

All Saints Anglican Church, Parramatta | Wednesday, 6 August 2025

On the Mount and Into the World

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ—one of the most radiant and theologically rich moments in the Church’s calendar—was commemorated by the S. Thomas’ College Old Boys’ Association NSW/ACT on Wednesday, 6th August 2025, at All Saints Anglican Church, Parramatta.

While in past years our tradition has been to gather on the Sunday closest to the Feast, this year the service was held on the actual day, August 6th. Though it was a weekday evening, a good and devoted congregation of Thomians, families, friends, and well-wishers filled the historic church to honour this sacred event.

This year’s service was of particular historic and spiritual significance. We were honoured to welcome The Rt Reverend Dushantha Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo, as preacher—the first Old Boy of S. Thomas’ College to be appointed to this high office in the Church of Ceylon. Serving as celebrant was Rev. James Sundar Raj of All Saints, who also coordinated and hosted the service with great generosity of spirit.

The Feast and Its Meaning

The Transfiguration is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1–9, Mark 9:2–10, Luke 9:28–36) and is echoed in the testimony of St Peter (2 Peter 1:16–21). It tells of how Jesus, taking Peter, James, and John up a high mountain to pray, was transfigured before them—His face shining like the sun, His garments dazzling white. Appearing alongside Him were Moses, the great lawgiver, and Elijah, the prophet of fire, speaking with Him about the “exodus” He was to accomplish in Jerusalem—His suffering, death, and resurrection.

The event is celebrated on August 6th in both Eastern and Western traditions. In the Western liturgical calendar, it is also placed before Lent, underscoring that the glory revealed on the mount is inseparable from the suffering of the cross.

For Thomians, this Feast holds a special resonance. The Chapel at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia—dedicated in 1948—is named for the Transfiguration. Its place at the highest point of the campus symbolises the light of Christ dispelling the ignorance and shadows of the world. Each year, the Sydney Thomian community gathers to recall this moment, to give thanks for the heritage of our College, and to rededicate ourselves to Christ’s service.

A Service of Dignity and Praise

The 2025 liturgy was a beautiful tapestry of scripture, prayer, and hymnody. Readings included the soaring vision of the “Ancient of Days” in Daniel 7, St Peter’s eyewitness account of the holy mountain in 2 Peter, the Christ-hymn from Philippians 2, and St Luke’s account of the Transfiguration. Hymns such as Rejoice! The Lord Is King! and the beloved ’Tis Good, Lord, to be Here framed the service with joy and reverence.

The Bishop’s Sermon – A Message from the Mount

Bishop Rodrigo’s sermon was both a theological meditation and a practical challenge to discipleship. He urged the congregation to look beyond the beauty and splendour of the Feast to the profound meaning of the event itself.

He reminded us that the Transfiguration was not an isolated display of divine glory, but a pivotal moment in salvation history. Moses and Elijah—the Law and the Prophets—stood beside Jesus, speaking not of triumphs but of His approaching suffering and death. Jesus’ resolute turning toward Jerusalem was a deliberate choice to walk the path of obedience, even though it led to the cross.

The Bishop reflected on Peter’s desire to remain on the mountaintop, building tents to preserve the moment. How often we too wish to linger in places of comfort and light, avoiding the valleys of hardship and the cries of a suffering world. But the glory of the Transfiguration is given not as an escape from the world, but as preparation to engage with it.

Using the image of the Transfiguration Chapel’s lofty position, Bishop Rodrigo explained that the light of Christ is not for us to hoard on the heights; it must be carried down into the valleys—to places of ignorance, injustice, and pain—where it is most needed.

His call to action was clear and compelling: “Come down from the mountain” with Jesus. Walk with Him into a world still “possessed” by fear and division. Turn your head with Him toward suffering and meet it with compassion, courage, and hope. This, he said, is the essence of Christian faith—and the Thomian way—not avoiding difficulty, but confronting it with the light of Christ.

Fellowship in the Thomian Spirit

After the service, the congregation gathered in the church hall for a warm and lively fellowship. Hemal and his team excelled in their hospitality, providing a welcoming space where old friends reunited, stories were shared, and the bonds of Thomian brotherhood were strengthened.

The 2025 Feast of the Transfiguration was more than a commemoration. It was an act of praise to God, a reaffirmation of our calling as Thomians, and a reminder that the glory we glimpse on the mountaintop is meant to strengthen us for service in the valleys. As we left, the Bishop’s words lingered: the light of Christ is for the world—carry it into the places where it is needed most.