“Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.” Matthew (17:1-9)
Today, we continue our ascent with Jesus. He leads us away once again, but this time to a high mountain and in the company of a few disciples. It is not insignificant that Jesus invites us to join him “on a high mountain.” In the Bible, the mountain is above all a symbolic place, a place where Jesus reveals himself, a place where he lifts the veil of the torpor of our daily lives that sometimes clouds our eyes and prevents us from seeing him better and knowing him more intimately. Is your heart ready for an unforgettable experience? Let’s take the time to climb the mountain of his heart and join Jesus there.
“Jesus was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.“
Jesus is “transfigured” before them. His whole being becomes luminous, even his clothes! Wow! That’s incredible! But what is happening? For a brief moment, Jesus allows the full intensity of the Father’s love that dwells within Him to burst forth!
The three disciples see Jesus shining like the sun on the snow! Perhaps we have had the experience of meeting a “luminous person”—a “radiant” person. Have you ever wondered what made them shine so brightly?
“… a bright cloud cast a shadow on them…
a voice that said: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased: listen to him!“
The story of the Transfiguration, like that of the baptism, reminds us that Jesus always lives in the presence of his Father. Jesus always lives in close relationship with the Father, and the Father with Him. Every time the Father speaks, it is to invite us to recognize Jesus as his beloved Son and to trust Him by listening to Him.
It is important for the disciples, as it is for us, to believe that Jesus is truly the one sent by the Father, that he is the one who saves us, the one who can transform us, “transfigure” us through the Father’s love so that we too may become his beloved sons and daughters. This is the way of life, the way of happiness.
The Transfiguration of Jesus invites us to look differently at ourselves, at the people around us, and at the events we experience. How can we already perceive the loving light of God present in them?
During this week, let us be surprised by the radiant light of the Risen One, which is already present in our world. Through the Holy Spirit, let us become those “beings of light,” witnesses to God’s love in our humanity. This is our true vocation as baptized Christians!
Let us live an unforgettable experience!
Sr. Louise Madore, DW
Province of Canada
