In today’s Gospel, we hear of the Transfiguration of Christ. In a homily on this same Gospel, St. John Paul II said:
“We, pilgrims on earth, are granted to rejoice in the company of the transfigured Lord when we immerse ourselves in the things of above through prayer and the celebration of the Divine mysteries. But, like the disciples, we too must descend from Tabor into daily life where human events challenge our faith. On the mountain we saw; on the paths of life we are asked tirelessly to proclaim the Gospel which illuminates the steps of believers.”
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain and reveals Himself, in His full glory, to them in order that they may keep the faith in the time to come. Christ knows that His Passion and Death are imminent and knows that it will be a time of great trial not only for Him but for His followers as well. By showing Peter, James, and John the Beauty that is to come, Christ allows the light of Himself and the hope of eternal salvation to enter their hearts, thereby preparing them to withstand the sorrow of Christ’s passion. In the first reading, we are given examples from the Old Testament of men who had faith and were rewarded with the prize of Heaven. They knew that their belief in God and their willingness to submit to His holy will is what would earn them everlasting life. They aligned their wills with that of the Father and are now examples of great faith for us.
St. John Paul II also says that “The Transfiguration shows the goal of our existence”. The goal of our existence is the fulfillment of what we are told in the first reading “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen”. We ourselves have not seen the Transfigured Christ yet, it is what we spend our lives pursuing. The attainment of Heaven, Beatific Vision, oneness with God–that is the goal of our existence, that is Faith. The Transfiguration is what allowed the disciples (and us) to maintain their hope for the Resurrection and as long as we keep that image in our hearts and minds, we cannot fall into the pit of despair.
As we prepare for Lent, may we take hope in the Transfiguration and allow it to illuminate the days leading up to the Passion of our Lord. May we not lose sight of what awaits us at the mountain top and always proclaim the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection as we walk with one another on the way up.
St. Polycarp, pray for us.
Dakota currently lives in Denver, CO is studying for her Master’s in Spanish, and loves her job as an elementary school librarian. She is engaged to the love of her life, Ralph. In her spare time, she reads, goes to breweries, and watches baseball. Dakota’s favorite saints are St. John Paul II (how could it not be?) and St. José Luis Sánchez del Río. She is passionate about her faith and considers herself blessed at any opportunity to share that faith with others. Check out more of her writing at https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com.
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