Today we celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration. Imagine
being Peter, James or John. They must
have felt special to be chosen to accompany Jesus on this trip up the mountain. Then all of a sudden they see Jesus in all
his glory and Moses and Elijah talking to Him. Peter is so excited that,
on impulse, he says whatever
comes to his mind. His speech sounds something like this: “Let’s build three tents here, Lord, one for
you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.
Let’s stay up here. This is great.” Then suddenly, a cloud overshadows
them and they hear a voice saying: “This is my Son, my Beloved. Listen to Him.”
Peter, James and John are overcome with fear. Jesus touches them and says: “Do
not be afraid” and they are then alone with Jesus. Together they leave the
mountain and Jesus says to them: “Tell no one of the vision until the Son of
Man has risen from the death.” The three of them are even more confused: “What
does he mean, ‘Rise from the dead,’” they ask themselves privately.
There are events in our lives that we, too, wish would never end. “Let’s
stay here forever.” “I wish we were this joy-filled, peace-filled always,” and
so on. But it is not to be. We do not
live on Mount Tabor. Like the apostles, who had to go back down the mountain
and join the other nine apostles, including Jesus’ betrayer, and who, within a
short time would be with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we live, the
majority of time, in ordinary time, with its disappointments, losses, setbacks,
and tragedies. Jesus’ message to us: “Be not afraid. I am with you always.”
We are given “Tabor” experiences, I believe, to help us
through the tough times, as were Peter, James and John, the same apostles Jesus
took with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. Yes, Jesus, prepares us from life’s
tragic moments! What a loving, caring, concerned God we have manifested to us
in Jesus!
These are some of my thoughts on the Transfiguration. What
are yours?
