Homily for Transfiguration – Take a hike

Carlos and Theodore met a few years ago while taking a course in spirituality at the local Catholic university.  As their friendship grew, they began seeing each other socially outside of class. One evening, Ted asked Carl if he would like to go hiking and Carl said that would be great. Spending the weekend away from the city would clear his mind and relieve stress. They planned to hike the local mountain. The exercise would be good for both Ted and Carl since they both had been too tied down with work and study. That Saturday, with their hiking gear packed, they began.  About three quarters away from the top of the mountain, they stopped for a short rest. Carl found some sticks, and fastened a cross, and planted it. Ted asked Carl why he did that.

Carl said that the climb reminded him of something he learned in the class on spirituality. In scripture, members of the community would meet God the Father and his Son, Jesus, at the top of a mountain. Because Jesus died on Mt. Calvary, Carl’s crude cross reminded him of Jesus’s passion, and death on Calvary.

Ted then said that this climb on the mountain, reminded him of Mt. Tabor, where Jesus revealed his divine nature to Peter, James, and John. After a few minutes of silent reflection, both continued to discuss the significance of meeting God the Father and his Son, Jesus, on the top of mountains. Mt. Tabor was where the veil of secrecy was lifted from Jesus thus reveling his glory. There God spoke to the disciples saying, “This is my beloved Son with him I am well-pleased. Listen to him.” Moses and Elijah were also there, speaking with Jesus. They spoke of the mission he was on; and it would be completed by his passion, death, and resurrection.

The disciples were frightened and confused. Nothing like this ever happened to them. Even though they knew Jesus was the Messiah, they were not all that sure what that all meant. They had hoped that Jesus, the Messiah, would lead the Jews from the oppression of the Romans. Nonetheless, Jesus would tell them that his mission was not to liberate them from Roman occupation, but liberation from sin and a new life in the Kingdom of God. Peter, James, and John needed time to digest all this and then come to understand the true mission of Jesus. In time they would understand and then they would share this good news with everyone else.

After Ted and Carl had a little lunch, they continued their hike up the mountain. They didn’t get very far when dark clouds covered part of the mountain. Ted said to Carl, “Do you think that God has something to say to us?” Carl replied, “If you think about it, God always has something to say to us. All we need to do is to open our heart and listen. Actually, this hike is a moment of new awareness for me. The story of the transfiguration has always been just that, a story. Today, something is different. I am seeing Jesus differently; it’s like I am coming to understand Jesus as I never understood him before. Jesus is not just someone who lived two thousand years ago. Jesus is up close and personal today for me.” Just then, the dark cloud lifted and the bright sun bathed both Ted and Carl with a warmth that reached deep into their bones. They laughed and continued their hike to the top of the mountain. Both knew that something great was waiting for them at the top.

Saint Peter in his second letter to the early Christian community also recalled his experience of the glory of Jesus on Tabor as well as the scandal of the cross on Calvary. He wrote, “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, ‘This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven where we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. …. You will do well to be attentive to it.”

We do not need to hike a mountain to experience what the disciples experienced on Mt. Tabor. Every Christian, who believes and pays attention, can encounter the risen Christ transfigured. Jesus’s mission is to everyone living today. He wants us to know that God loves us and covers us with his merciful forgiveness. Our hope, based in Jesus, is that we will one day share in his eternal glory. Meanwhile, fear has no place in our life when we focus on Jesus and accept his loving presence in our hearts.

Pray that you will now experience the same joy that Peter, James, and John had on that mountain top. When Carlos and Theodore arrived at the top of the mountain, they knew that they would need to share their experience of the transfigured Jesus with others.  You, too, are challenged to share your profound joy with others, especially those you love the most and those whom you will come to know as new friends today.

God be blessed! Now and forever. Amen.