A Cycle – Feast of the Transfiguration 23

Mt. 17:1-9

How many times have you heard the church tell us “Jesus came to set us free?” Since Vatican II, I have heard that phrase so many times it does not register any longer.  That is a real problem with us and faith, we have accepted certain truths but fail to act on them.  I was thinking about Jesus and His many encounters with individuals who did not expect anything from the encounter. It was as if they were resigned to their fate.  The Samaritan woman at the well did not expect Jesus to even speak to her nor did she expect to have all her shame, or her life changed.  The man by the pool of Bethesda had no hope of ever being cured.  The woman caught in adulty, knew death by stoning was her fate and did not expect Jesus to prevent that from happening much less forgive her indiscretions.   

We could look at a long list of individuals physically healed, given sight or their hearing or freed from possessing demons. What is amazing is how their lives were radically changed by the encounter.  Many of them became whole, functioning, disciples whose very stories created a desire within others.  A desire for what Jesus offers everyone who would open their hearts to him.  Peter, James, John, Andrew, and the rest of the disciples were all changed because of their response to the invitation of Jesus.  Jesus continues to offer us that invitation same experience and freedom.  But we must desire it enough to take a step we have no idea how to take.

My own “conversion” was a powerful experience of the presence of God.  That moment came as I sat in the Green Mountains in Vermont wrestling with my own resistance to say yes to Jesus.  Today’s gospel brought that moment back to my mind and as I often do, I relived that encounter with God.  What is more amazing to me is how God desires each of us to have our mountain top experience.  An experience where we encounter the fullness of God’s love, mercy, and power.  In fact, mountain top experiences are very scriptural and like many passages we ignore them. We have grown too familiar with them.  Yet, they happened to create within us a desire for our own moment with God.  That day or night when we know we are given a glimpse of what God desires to do within us.

In the scriptures there are several memorable mountain top experiences which are lessons for us.  One of them involved Abraham as he climbs up a mountain to sacrifice his son.  That experience demanded of Abraham complete trust in God could raise his son to life after he sacrificed him.  That trust was a complete change from the times when Abraham acted on his own to protect himself from Abimelech (Gen.20:2).  We can easily recall the encounter Moses had with God on the mountain as God reveals His identity (EX.3).   Moses dared to look upon God when every Israelite at the time believed looking upon God would result in death.  Yet God allows Moses to see his glory and the experience changes Moses (EX.34:35).  Elijah encountered God on that same mountain when he hears God as a small whispering voice (1 Kings 19:8).     

It should not surprise us when Jesus brings Peter, James, and John up a high mountain for a moment of revelation.  If you travel to the Holy Land, they will tell you Mt. Tabor is the place where this event took place. It is a high mountain with magnificent views of Galilee.  But Jesus did not bring them there to marvel at the view, but to experience the presence of God. 

All mountain top experiences are moments where we can be transported into the presence of the divine.   The scriptures tell us Jesus had no stately appearance.  He was the son of a carpenter from Nazareth.  Nothing special to see or even notice until that day. The disciples were not attracted to him because of his looks.  They followed him because something about him, his words, his touch, his presence created a desire to discover more. 

As Jesus was transformed, Peter, James and John saw what was hidden from everyone, his divinity.  That day Jesus reveals more than his divinity, he reveals God who speaks to them.  They encountered the trinity that day.  The Holy Spirit overshadows them as he overshadowed Mary at her annunciation.  This encounter with the trinity by the disciples can and should be one we experience.  It is a moment in time when the veil is opened, and we experience it all.  Mercy, love, forgiveness, faithfulness, and a peace that fills us for a lifetime. 

It is amazing how quickly things go back to normal for those three disciples.  They see Jesus just like he was before his transfiguration.  He tells them not to tell anyone about what they have seen, and they never told anyone until after his resurrection.   Therefore, it is safe for us to share our mountain top experiences with others.  Our stories can be like that of the woman at the well touching everyone she spoke with.  In fact, our experiences are fundamental to others desiring their own mountain top experience.  They are the stories of today and how Christ is still revealing himself to each of us. If only question is are we willing to go with him to the mountain top.