North Carolina

Divine nature of Jesus revealed in the Transfiguration, says North Carolina priest: ‘Glory of God’

Published

12 months ago

August 6, 2023

Divine nature of Jesus revealed in the Transfiguration, says North Carolina priest: ‘Glory of God’

“And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2).

This verse comes from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible.

Not much is known about St. Matthew, who is credited with writing the Gospel of Matthew, says Christian website Overviewbible.com.

When Matthew was called by Jesus to be one of his disciples, he was employed as a publican, or tax collector.

This was “one of the most reviled professions in ancient Judaism,” said the site.

GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT, EVEN WHEN THINGS SEEM TO GO WILDLY WRONG, SAYS WASHINGTON PASTOR

And though he’s one of the authors of the Gospels, “there are just seven mentions of him in the entire Bible,” said the same source.

The verse is Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration, an event that is noted in all three of the synoptic Gospels.

The Transfiguration shows the fully divine and fully human natures of Jesus, said Fr. Matthew Schneider, a priest with the Legionaries of Christ. (iStock)

“On August 6 each year, Catholics and some other Christians celebrate the Transfiguration,” Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC, told Fox News Digital.

Schneider is a priest with the Legionaries of Christ, a Roman Catholic clerical religious order, and was ordained in 2013. He is currently in North Carolina.

The Transfiguration “is a moment when Jesus goes up the mountain with his three closest disciples – Peter, James and John – and his looks transformed to be more glorious,” he explained.

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In the early Church, there were debates regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus, Schneider said.

“Ultimately, the Church determined correctly that Jesus is both God and man,” he said.

“Throughout the Gospel, we see Jesus as man,” he said, “and his divinity only peeks out here or there when he performs a miracle like curing someone or walking on water.”

woodcut image of the transfiguration split with a picture of Fr. Schneider

Fr. Matthew Schneider, LC, currently based in North Carolina, spoke of the deeper meaning of the Transfiguration. “The apostles were overwhelmed,” as the Gospel of Matthew notes. (iStock/Fr. Matthew Schneider)

The Transfiguration is different, however.

“In the Transfiguration, instead, we see his divinity clearly. We see, ‘His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light,’” said Schneider.

The Gospel notes that “the apostles are overwhelmed by his glory and hide their faces,” and that “Jesus’ divinity is so overwhelming.”

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The experience of the Transfiguration was an echo of similar experiences of Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament.

“Moses’ face was so bright after talking to God that he needed to put a cloth over his face,” said Schneider, referencing Exodus 34:29-35.

stained glass depiction of transfiguration

The apostles shielded their faces during the Transfiguration, similar to the actions taken by Old Testament figures. (iStock)

In 1 Kings 19:11-13, Elijah “hid his face because he knew how glorious God was,” he said.

“In Jesus, God shows his face in a way all of us can handle. However, with the Transfiguration, the divine glory shines through again,” Schneider said.

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And while in the current day, some may only think of Jesus as a man, or only as God — both are incorrect.

“He is God, too, not just man,” said Schneider. “Others can spiritualize him and think of Jesus as only God, but he is man, too, not just God.”

Church of the Transfiguration, a stone church, in Galilee

The Church of the Transfiguration was built on Mount Tabor in Galilee over the traditional site of the Transfiguration. (iStock)

This does not mean that Jesus is 50% God and 50% man, but rather that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, he said.

The Transfiguration was also a display of all three persons in the Trinity, said Schneider.

“Worship is the appropriate reaction if we realize we are in the presence of God.”

“We see Jesus, we see the Holy Spirit in the cloud that overpowers them, and we hear the Father who says, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’” he said.

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The response of the apostles toward the transfigured Jesus should be an example for humanity as a whole, said the priest.

“With all this glory of God, we need to ask about our response to God’s glory,” said Schneider.

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“Many people will remain indifferent, but that seems wildly inadequate if he really is God … We see a bit of an example with the apostles: ‘They fell prostrate, and were filled with awe,’” he said. “This is an indication of worship.”

He added, “Worship is the appropriate reaction if we realize we are in the presence of God.”

Christine Rousselle is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.

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North Carolina

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

Published

7 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a tropical depression over Cuba. It’s expected to become a tropical storm later Saturday, bringing impacts to the Carolinas around the middle of next week.

Heavy rainfall and flooding are the primary impacts expected, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

“Gusty winds are also possible, but it is too early to predict specific impacts in great detail at this time,” the weather service said.

At the same time, there is the potential for heavy rainfall and some flooding associated with front expected to stall inland this weekend.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of the tropical depression, which would be name Debby if it becomes a tropical storm, was over Cuba and moving west-northwest near 15 mph. The hurricane center said a turn toward the northwest is forecast for Saturday, followed by a northward motion on Sunday and then a slower northeastwardmotion Sunday night and Monday.

Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected throughout the day Saturday. Faster strengthening is possible Sunday, with the storm nearing hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast, the hurricane center said.

STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.

Here’s a look at what we can expect in the Wilmington area, according to the latest briefing from the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Wind

The probability of tropical storm force winds has increased, especially for the South Carolina coast. The most likely time of arrival of for northeast South Carolina is Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and for Southeastern North Carolina is during Wednesday morning.

Rain

The potential for significant rainfall exists with 8 to 12 inches possible from near Cape Fear to portions of thenortheast South Carolina coast. Flash flooding and urban flooding are possible. Some rivers, including the North Cape Fear River and the Waccamaw River, could exceed flood stage next week.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Enter your address to see hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed nearby

Marine impacts

Rough surf, including dangerous rip currents, and hazardous marine conditions are expected this weekend and will persist into the upcoming week.

Are you prepared for a hurricane?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Even if this system won’t pose a threat to the NC coast, it’s never too early to be prepared.

GET READY: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here’s what to know if you live in the Wilmington area.

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North Carolina

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

Published

14 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

As of the 5 AM update Friday, Tropical Depression Four has formed. Areas along the East Coast including North Carolina need to continue monitoring this system. Winds are at 30 MPH and gusts are up to 40 MPH. The pressure dropped to 1009 mb and is moving to the west at 16 mph. TD 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby over the weekend. Tuesday night and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days due to the threat to ENC from this system but we may need to adjust the timing as we get closer.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center continues to show ENC in the cone of uncertainty.(WITN)

It’ll move slowly before escaping to the north next week. As it moves up the East Coast, there’s a lot more uncertainty about the track and threats. We expect the track of this system to change through the weekend and even into next week. If ENC sees impacts from this system, they’d likely come mid-week. The longer this system stays over land, the weaker it’ll be. It’ll have the chance to strengthen if it moves back over open water, especially if it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

Storms are possible Saturday through Monday as a developing tropical system gets closer.(WITN)

The speed of this system is just as important as the strength. The quicker it moves through, the less rain piles up. If it slows down or stalls, higher rainfall amounts would be expected. Our river levels have dropped a bit since July’s wet weather, but levels are still higher than what you’d find in a typical August.

What We Know, What We Don't — What We Know, What We Don’t(WITN)

This is a reminder that we are heading into the heart of the hurricane season and to make sure your emergency supplies are ready.

Stay with WITN and WITN.com as we continue to track this system over the coming days and monitor the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

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North Carolina

Alabama man on work trip stops to buy $3 quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot

Published

21 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Alabama man on work trip stops to buy quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot

Christopher Baker of Leesburg, Alabama was on a work trip in Hickory, North Carolina, when he thought he’d try his luck on a lotto game. It turned out to be a lucrative Powerball win.

An Alabama man on a work trip in North Carolina bought a $3 Quick Pick Powerball ticket on a whim and walked away with a six-figure windfall.

Christopher Baker of Leesburg in northeastern Alabama bought his lucky ticket in July in Hickory, North Carolina, where had been traveling for work, according to Powerball.

When the numbers were drawn, Baker says he had to do a double-take when he realized he had a $100,000 winning ticket. He had matched four white balls and the red Powerball, which would have been $50,000, but a 2X multiplier doubled the win and the disbelief.

“I just kept looking at it to make sure I was reading it right,” he laughed, according to Powerball. “I told my family but they didn’t believe me. either.”

Baker, who called his win “a shocker.” said he plans to save his winnings to buy a house.

Baker will take home $71,501 after federal and state taxes are withheld.

How to play the Powerball

In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.

To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

Players can also ask a cashier for a “Quick Pick” where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there’s no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.

Where to purchase tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

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