Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration and commemorate the 45th anniversary of the death of St Pope Paul VI. When Pope Paul VI died in 1978, I remember thinking how appropriate it was that he went to heaven on the Feast of the Transfiguration. I imagined a transfigured Holy Father wearing radiant white robes standing before St. Peter and quoting from St. Paul: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance” (2nd Timothy 4:7-8)
Most Christians I know yearn for transforming mountaintop experiences. Like Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John we long to see God face to face. We want to hear God's voice. We want to be near Jesus and experience the serenity of His presence. And like Peter, we want the experience to last forever. Sadly, for most of us, mountaintop experiences are fleeting. They are glorious moments that seem to evaporate as we descend the mountain. Just as Moses, Elijah and Jesus could not stay on the mountaintop forever; neither can we. Jesus' mission was not to sit on the mountain in all his glory like a wise sage imparting wisdom to those who climbed up to see him. Jesus had to come down to live among, teach and heal the people who ultimately would crucify him. That is how he secured our salvation.
It is important for us to go to the mountaintop, to stop, to pray, to seek God's face and to hear God's voice. However, we must remember that mountaintop experiences are not an end. We go to the mountain seeking our own transfiguration so that we can return to our daily lives and be a transforming presence to others. We go to the mountaintop to draw strength from God so that we can accompany Jesus and all our suffering sisters and brothers on the Way of the Cross.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
it is wonderful for us to be here
in the presence of your beloved Son.
Let his radiant face give us light and peace.
May the light of his transfigured face
shine on all of us and give us courage,
that we too may become lights to one another,
until we may enter your everlasting light.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
