The Gospel according to Mark (9:2-10)
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.
Reflection:
The word “transfigure” is one that I don’t think we ever hear, except in the Christian context of what we read in the Gospel for today – the Feast of the Transfiguration. In the dictionary, it just says that transfigure means to “transform into something more beautiful or elevated.” It’s one of those words that just defies understanding by our minds or our senses. In essence, Peter, James and John saw Jesus in His glory – the glory He had in heaven and would take up again. I think the Gospel writers just could not describe it adequately, but they did try!
The Transfiguration was a very real example to those chosen three of a glimpse into the unfathomable depths of God’s majesty. A priest mentioned once that if we saw our souls in the state of grace (which we reach at our Baptism, and whenever we receive absolution of our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation) – as God sees them, we would fall down on our faces in worship of this amazing God.
I was blessed to confer Baptism on a little boy this past Sunday at my parish of St Rita. The little boy, whose name was Connor, likely did not really “get” what was happening. Hopefully, his parents and godparents understood a bit, but the truth is that we can’t really understand the mystery with our human intellect. Sacraments are tangible signs of God’s presence with us, and ways for us to try to grasp something that is totally beyond us. They demonstrate not only God’s presence and His love, but also the promise of God that each of us who are Baptized are truly part of His family and will never be abandoned.
Peter, James and John got more than a glimpse of the majesty of God, in the Transfiguration. One would think that it would be impossible to doubt God after seeing that, but we know that those three (like us) were fallible human beings and did doubt. It gives me hope that, even if I fail, even if I choose to stray, God is with me through it all. All I have to do is take to heart the words that came from the Father on the mount of Transifiguration: “listen to Him.” That’s all we have to do, “listen” and then carry that love and message out into the world, to those God places before us. God will show us the way – we just have to trust and follow.
Action for the Day:
Imagine for a moment during a quiet time today of how much God loves you. He sent His Son to save YOU and even if you were the only person saved, God would still have chosen as He did. Ponder that incredible love in your heart, and then do two things: first, give thanks for that amazing love; second, ask how you (yes, YOU) can be an instrument of that love for someone else today.
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