“they kept the matters to themselves”

After the three Apostles had seen the Transfiguration Jesus gave them an order, “not to relate what they had seen to anyone except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” While they did not fully understand why they had to keep it to themselves until Jesus, they were obedient.
 
Why don’t the Apostles understand? Peter, James, and John did not understand what Jesus meant because they did not fully understand His Resurrection. They also did not understand why Jesus would have to be killed. St. Peter took this event to heart and clearly recalls back to it in his letter, “And the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.” [1] There are many today that do not believe in the resurrection. Maybe they also don’t believe in miracles or the power of God. These people, who do not embrace the reality of the Resurrection, will not understand.
 
What makes the Resurrection believable? The thing that makes the Resurrection believable is that it is so unbelievable. No other religious leader raised them self from the dead. Without the power of God and without faith, this is an unbelievable story.

Without the Resurrection there is only death. There are those who do not understand death and fear death. “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!” [2] We as Christian’s are not to fear death. “All praise be yours, my Lord, for our Sister Physical Death from whose embrace no mortal can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy are those she finds doing your most holy will! The second death can do no harm to them.” [3]
 
What is obedience? “The moral virtue that inclines the will to comply with the will of another who has the right to command. Material obedience is merely to carry out the physical action commanded; formal obedience is to perform an action precisely because it is commanded by a legitimate superior.” [4]

Search: To Obey is to do Your Will
 
How much am I suppose to be obedient? “The extent of obedience is a wide as the authority of the person who commands. Thus obedience to God is without limit whereas obedience to human beings is limited by higher laws that must not be transgressed, and by the competency or authority of the one who gives the orders.” [5]
 
How is Obedience a Virtue? “As a virtue, it is pleasing to God because it means the sacrifice of one’s will out of love for God.” [6] Obedience stems from Piety, a gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
What is Piety? Piety makes us love God as a Father and obey Him because we love Him. This helps us to have reverence and to pray well. We practice piety every time we put the love of God and wanting to do His will before ours. Many times we speak of piety in reference to the Liturgy. It is in the liturgy and prayer that many times our love of God is most challenged. Saint Jose Maria Escriva said, "You say the Mass is long and, I add, because your love is short.” [7]
 
We see this act of piety and obedience done perfectly in the first reading this Sunday with the story of Abraham. “In obedience to God’s command, Abraham had had the courage, at seventy-five years of age, to give up country and home and customary routine; now in his old age he has carried his obedience even to sacrificing his only son. [8] Remember, Abraham believed Isaac, his son, was the son to bring about the divine promises that were made. “…yet Abraham obeyed and continued to believe that God would keep his word. Truly he deserves the title of ‘our father in faith’ [9].” [10]
 
Why must I be obedient to God? If we think about it, we are obedient to someone or something all the time. Even Jesus, who is God, was obedient. “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” [11] Make a list of the people and things you are obedient to. If we are obedient to these things, how much more should we be obedient to God who is the Supreme Being above everything? “Men must heed him in order to live according to his teachings, and God himself listens to him because through his sacrifice he will save mankind.”. [12] We should be obedient because we love God; we are not forced. . St. Paul said in the second reading this Sunday, “If God is for us who can be against us?” [13] As long as we are obedient to God, we are with God, who is for us and for our salvation. If we are not obedient, we pit ourselves against God and we will surely lose every time.

The oldest active army regiment, the U.S. 3^rd Infantry, expects perfection in all that they do. They are charged with guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and are extremely obedient to guard their post at every hour of every day, no exceptions. Their obedience is to that of the fallen, nameless soldiers, who are laid to rest, but not forgotten. We should strive in all things to remind ourselves to be obedient to God and to remember the sacrifice He made for us on the Cross.

[1] 2 Pet. 1:17-18
[2] The Great Paschal Troparion
[3] St. Francis of Assisi
[4] Modern Catholic Dictionary pgs. 383-384
[5] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 384
[6] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 384
[7] The Way
[8] Divine Intimacy vol. II pg. 30
[9] Eucharistic Prayers I
[10] Divine Intimacy vol. II pg. 30
[11] Hebrews 5:9
[12] Divine Intimacy vol. II pg. 30
[13] Rm. 8:31