Today is the Feast of the Lord's Transfiguration. 6 August 2022
I contemplate the fourth Luminous Mystery of The Rosary: The Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.
This scene is described in three Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Neither of them was an eyewitness to this event. However, the beloved disciple, John, is silent.
When I want to know more about a topic, I research several sources. Besides descriptions of the same event from the three gospels today I join Peter, James and John in their journey with Jesus.
Matthew 17: 1-8
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Mark 9, 2-10
"After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
Luke 9, 28-36
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
In the Bible, the most important meetings with God took place at the peak of a mountain.
Why?
Why is it so important to go up the mountain to see God, to have that metamorphic encounter?
The Way
In order to get to the top of a mountain, I need to prepare myself first and take the appropriate equipment with me. Depending on how long and complicated the road is, I need to strengthen my muscles, learn to breathe properly, and go at a certain pace. Not only the physical aspect is important, but also attitude, motivation and awareness of the goal - what exactly I'm going there for - play a big role in this challenge. Patience and persistence are good motivators, too.
If I get discouraged today and turn back before I leave, will I have another chance, a chance for such a journey? If so, the circumstances might be different, and I might have a different experience, maybe also my mountain will be different.
The Peak
What I experience at the top of the mountain changes me so much that I come back changed.
I am Changed.
I am Different.
Now, I see my reality in a new light.
But first I had to look around from this peak, look up and down. The experience is definitely diverse. Here, high up, I experience the enormity and omnipotence of the Creator. I have no words to express my amazement and wonder at His Greatness and Wisdom. This majesty reminds me that He created this world for me, a little dust in the cosmos, to share His Love and Joy with me. The longer I stand and thank Him for this meeting, the more thoughts come to my mind. As big and limitless as the space is, so is the proportion of my experience.
Is it possible to understand it only in the imagination or at home?
I do not know. God has a reason if He invited me today to meet Him at the top of some mountain. What does He want to prepare me for?
When Moses came down from the mountain, such light was shining from him that the Israelites had to cover their eyes. The same light blinded the apostles on Mount Tabor. They totally lost their bearings in reality. They saw the Glory of God.
Such a light of Love permeates my heart as well. Such light should radiate from me and you as we come out of the Eucharist, such a light of God's Presence that others would also want to experience it.
In my life, however, the Glory of God is most often revealed by numerous little lights. Sometimes they blend into the blinding spotlights of materialism and everyday reality that I just can't see them. It is a sad orientation of the present day: not seeing with the eyes of the heart, not hearing with the ears of the soul ... we are surrounded by various clouds and fearful billows of news.
In what cloud does my adventure of meeting the Creator disappear?
The word transformation comes from the Greek word "metemorfothe". It signifies a change in the external form - morphe - transition from one form to another:
God Jesus became man;
He is risen;
on Mount Tabor, He revealed this metamorphosis to the three apostles.
The word conversion comes from the Greek word "metemorfothe". It means a change of mind, conversion, and reformation.
Mark 1, 12-15 says:
“At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near.
Repent and believe the good news!”
The interpretation from the Polish translation means, “CONVERT and believe in the Gospel.”
Unexpectedly, all the English translations of the Bible FOR THIS PASSAGE I found use the word REPENT.
CONVERT and REPENT put together give us the whole resolution of TRANSFIGURATION.
A transformation in the way of thinking can take place when God touches my heart. When He illuminates it with His Spirit, His Love it is converted/ transfigurated - metemorfothe.
I have to be willing to accept His spiritual gifts and say: YES.
Mary said FIAT to God’s request.
I have to declare FIAT myself, so the gifts can manifest in my life in a different way of choices and living.
I am asking Mary, our Mother:
"O Mary, turn my heart into Yours. Surround it with a crown of chastity decorated with virtues. Take my heart, beloved Mother consecrated as Yours. Present it to God, our Father as my sacrifice for You. Help me, Mary, to make Your heart known more every day of my life. " Amen.
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