81. Peter, when he saw Moses and Elias on
the mountain, with the Son of God, was not deceived as to their nature
and glory. For he enquired, not of them, but of Christ, what he
ought to do, inasmuch as though he prepared to do homage to all three,
yet he waited for the command of one. But since he ignorantly
thought that for three persons three tabernacles should be set up, he
was corrected by the sovereign voice of God the Father, saying,
“This is My dearly beloved Son: hear ye
Him.” S. Matt. xvii. 5. That is
to say: “Why dost thou join thy fellow-servants in equality
with thy Lord?” “This is My Son.” Not
“Moses is My Son,” nor “Elias is My Son,” but
“This is My Son.” The Apostle was not dull to
understand the rebuke; he fell on his face, brought low by the
Father’s voice and the glorious beauty of the Son, but he was
raised up by the Son, Whose wont it is to raise up them that are
fallen. S. Matt. xvii. 6–8. Then he
saw one only, S. Matt. xvii. 8. the Son of God
alone, for the servants had withdrawn, that He might be seen to be Lord
alone, Who alone was entitled Son.