Our Families and Transfiguration
Climbing the mountain, we normally have those who pitch their tents at the base and enjoy what life gives them; campers as we would call them. The others are like the hikers who climb the mountain; in which some of them could give up and the few will carry on the difficult path. Finally there are those few who have put their heart and soul in climbing the mountain so that they can have a view of the beauty, get refreshed and are able to descend back to their normal day to day activity with this powerful experience.
This is what we see in today’s reading and in a special way the gospel passage of transfiguration.
Just last Sunday we were on a different mountain in which Jesus was driven by the Spirit and in the midst of beast and temptation, was ministered by the Angels. Having put His trust in the Word of God his Abba, was able to overcome the evil and thus returned to go about doing good.
This Sunday as in every season of Lent, we are taken to the second mountain top. This time, Jesus goes up to have that close encounter with God to also discuss with Moses and Elijah of the process of doing the will of God his Father, especially through the passion and death. It was also to take his favorite disciples to give them a glimpse of his transfiguration and the foretaste of His Resurrection, which will come through his suffering and death and above all in doing the will of his father.
In the Transfiguration story in today’s Gospel. The primary purpose of Jesus’ Transfiguration was to allow him to consult his Heavenly Father and ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death and Resurrection. God’s secondary aim was to make Jesus’ chosen disciples aware of Jesus’ Divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly ambitions and dreams of a conquering political Messiah and might be strengthened in their time of trial. A third aim was to give Jesus the conviction that he will be the Son of God his loving Father even during his suffering and death. Finally, by describing the theophany of Jesus’ Transfiguration, the Gospel gives us a glimpse of the Heavenly glory awaiting those who do God’s will by putting their trusting Faith in Him.
The scene of Heavenly glory: While praying, Jesus was transformed into a shining figure, full of Heavenly glory. This reminds us of Moses and Elijah who also experienced the Lord in all His glory. After his encounter with God, Moses’ face shone so brightly that the people were frightened, and Moses had to wear a veil over his face (Exodus 34:29-35). The Jews believed that Moses was taken up in a cloud at end of his earthly life. At Mt. Horeb, Elijah covered his face with his cloak and stood in the entrance of his as the Lord came and spoke directly to him (1 Kings 19:9-18). Finally, Elijah was taken directly to Heaven in a chariot of fire without seeing death (2 Kings 2:11 -15). Thus, the implication is that, although God spared Elijah from the normal process of death and Moses from normal burial, He did not spare His Son suffering and death.
God the Father’s Voice from the cloud: God often made appearances in a cloud. God’s words from the cloud, “This is My Beloved Son; listen to him,” are similar to the words used by God at Jesus’ baptism: “You are My beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” Mk 1:11). At the moment of Jesus’ death, a Roman centurion would declare, “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (15:39). These words summarize the meaning of the Transfiguration, that on this mountain, God revealed Jesus as His Son — His beloved — the One in whom He is always well pleased and the One to whom we must listen.
The three transformations in our lives in our journey towards eternity: The first change begins at Baptism, which washes away original sin, transforming us into children of God and heirs of Heaven. The second transformation takes place through our victory over the trials and tribulations of life. Every challenge, every difficulty, every moment of suffering, is an opportunity for transformation and spiritual growth. The third transformation takes place at death. Eternal life in Heaven, perhaps after a period of further transformation in purgatory, is granted to those who have been found worthy. The last transformation or transfiguration will be completed at the Second Coming when our glorified body is reunited with our soul.
(1) The transubstantiation in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength: Just as Jesus’ Transfiguration strengthened the apostles in their time of trial, each holy Mass should be our source of heavenly strength against temptations, and our renewal during Lent. In addition, our Holy Communion with the living Jesus should be the source of our daily “transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts so that we may do more good by humble and selfless service to others.
(2) Each time we receive one of the Sacraments, we are transformed: For example, Baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God and heirs of Heaven. Confirmation makes us temples of the Holy Spirit and warriors of God. By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings back the sinner to the path of holiness.
(3) A message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, the thought of our transformation in Heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His consoling words: “This is my beloved son.”
As a family, we can daily experience this transformation and transfigure our families.
– Go up the mountain: as a family gather together your family; physically, spiritually and now even through technology, to climb the mountain of prayer. Carry with you your joys and sorrow, worries and anxiety, sickness and health, even this pandemic moments and all its effects. Going together is very important. Remember the Lord is always going to accompany us. He will lead us and help us to climb the mountain top.
– The mountain top: these are moments of doing things together. Helping each other to climb and enjoy family life together. Doing all our activities we are called to in the family well and so to enjoy each other company. Above all to experience the beautiful moments of being in the presence of God in prayers and sacrifices. the moment of family prayer and worship. Sitting together for the on line holy mass, adoration, retreats. These are the mountain top. Being in front of your ALTAR at home. Bring to the Lord all your intentions. Your home and family is the mountain top always. It is the Lord who build the home and in always present there.
– Coming down the mountain with the fruits of our experience: every moment of being in the presence of God and with each member of the family will always bring blessings. We feel energized and full of the spirit to go about doing our day to day activities. These mountain top experience will surely transform our families and each member too. We will be able to carry on the fruits of this experience and help each other and those who come in contact with us. We will be changed people. Thus we will be able to go about doing our activity, be it at home, school, office and in society, we will be people who will be transformed just like Moses and Elijah were and towards the end of our life will be transfigured like Jesus. We will be individual who will forgive and love each other; be the ones who will care and share too. It is then we will not just hear from God; “You are my beloved son or daughter in whom I am well pleased”; we in turn will say to the members of our family and others, you are my beloved father, mother, sister and brother, with whom I am blessed and pleased to be.
Let us truly this season of lent take our families to the Lord especially through prayer, sacrifice and charity so that I can transform my life and of my family, thus becoming transfigured and a model for others. Thus making our parish transfigured too.
Fr. Franco Pereira, S.D.B.