Mt. 17: 1 – 9 ( http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030820.cfm )
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
‘Till you find your dream.
(The Sound of Music)
The apostles and Jesus had hiked up the mountain where they suddenly found themselves in God’s storeroom of greatness: Jesus, changed and glorified; Moses, the lawgiver; Elijah the prophet, a bright cloud, a voice and some chatter.
Aware of their astonishment, it is not surprising that, with his hand on their shoulder and a word in their ear, he reassured them, “Stand up. Do not be afraid”. At the death and resurrection of Jesus, did the Transfiguration colour their feelings and expectations?
I can resonate with the experience of “Transfiguration” when at the lowest time in my life and faced with a horrific situation, suddenly and in the twinkling of an eye, I literally felt the Lord standing beside me, so much so that I had to take a step back. This experience was so powerful that I suddenly felt totally enveloped by Love. I return to that overwhelming occurrence over and over again and it is as real today as if it were yesterday. Out of sorrow comes joy. This is not unique. People of every age, creed and colour will have had similar experiences.
Society is in dire need of being able to witness “Transfiguration”: the dignity of the human person, respect for life, renewal of our institutions, the whole of creation, a new ecological awareness etc. But God makes all things new and is never outdone in generosity.
One of the 167 stained-glass windows in Chartres Cathedral shows the four major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, each carrying an evangelist on his shoulder – the symbolism being that the evangelist can see further!
In this Year of the Word let us rejoice in the mystery of Transfiguration and Transformation and be enriched and renewed by the “The God who Speaks.”
Jesus, our Beloved, walk down the mountain with us and open our eyes to see you.
Let us resist the urge to distract ourselves, to be addicted to being busy.
Wake us up to the glory that is all around us all the time.
Amen.
Image by WikiImages from Pixabay
Sr. Mary Lyons SP
