My eyes have seen the glory!

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

[ Matthew 17: 1-9 ]

   Jesus is the Lamp that never goes out. [Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Angelus, 4 Mar 2012]

"I AM the Light of the world."[Jn 8: 12]

Every year on 6 August, the universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 554-555) teaches that: Moses and Elijah had seen God's glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah's sufferings. Christ's Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God's servant; the cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. “The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud.”

Our Lord Jesus is, as it were, showing the apostles ‘the official trailer of an upcoming movie’ – His upcoming Passion, Crucifixion and Death… and His final triumphal entry into glory.

The Transfiguration is essentially a glimpse of the eternal Kingdom of God, a momentary foretaste of the unending happiness in Paradise with God. It is a celebration of light; it is a celebration of Jesus Christ the eternal Light of the world. The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ as the Father commands the astonished Apostles to “listen to him” (Mt 17: 5)…

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Angelus, 4 Mar 2012) explained, “Jesus wants this light to illuminate the apostles’ hearts when they pass through the thick darkness of His Passion and death, when the folly of the Cross becomes unbearable to them. God is light, and Jesus wishes to give His closest friends the experience of this light which dwells within Him.”

Through the glory of His Transfiguration, Jesus desires to empower us, encourage us, embolden us, enlighten us and enliven us, as we navigate through the darkness of this world – He is the Lamp that never goes out.

   Ascending in prayer.

   ‘Jesus took with Him Peter, James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.’ [Mt 17: 1]

To encounter Jesus, we need to be led by Him. To experience Jesus, we need to follow Him. To immerse in Jesus, we need to go away to be alone. To do His will, we need to listen to Him in the silence of our hearts where He speaks.

St Mother Teresa has this to say, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

As faithful disciples of the Lord, all of us need to ascend ‘the mountain of prayer’: all of us need that silence to find God and to listen to Him.

Ascending 'the mountain of prayer'.

   Descending with brotherly love.

   “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here…” [Mt 17: 4]

No. ‘The mountain of prayer’ must not become a comfort bubble that leads to spiritual escapism or spiritual laziness. ‘The mountain of prayer’ must not become an excuse for individualism, indifference or inaction.

Pope Francis (Angelus, 28 Feb 2021) urges that, “We must beware of spiritual laziness: we are fine, with our prayers and liturgies, and this is enough for us. No! Going up the mountain does not mean forgetting reality; praying never means avoiding the difficulties of life; the light of faith is not meant to provide beautiful spiritual feelings. No, this is not Jesus’ message. We are called to experience the encounter with Christ so that, enlightened by his light, we might take it and make it shine everywhere. Igniting little lights in people’s hearts; being little lamps of the Gospel that bear a bit of love and hope: this is the mission of a Christian.”

Proclaiming Jesus through the works of mercy.

   The Life of a Christian: the constant ascending and descending.

Just few days ago on 2 August 2023 from Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis made an URGENT CALL to recover the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION in the Church. In his message, he is calling upon all the faithful to take up again THE PRAYER OF ADORATION BEFORE THE TABERNACLE to recover “the taste and passion for evangelization”. (CNA | 2 Aug 2023)

Indeed, the life of a true Christian is this:

   (1) the constant ‘ascending in prayer’ to listen to Jesus, and

   (2) the constant ‘descending with brotherly love’ to proclaim Jesus.

Perhaps on this Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, may we reflect deeply the urgent call of Pope Francis and recover the vigour for the Eucharistic Adoration and the passion for evangelization. May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds, illumine our darkened world, and grant us peace.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening; I have come to do Your will.” 

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.