What gives the Christian life hope, peace, and serene joy? In short, it is the vision of glory, a glimpse of the promised land of heaven, which the Lord can and does give to His people. Today's Gospel shows a kind of process by which the Lord lays the foundations of hope, peace, and joy.
The Paradoxical Prelude – The text says that Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain. Note that to bring them to a place where they can see glory, the Lord must first lead them "up a high mountain."
It is easy to overlook this fact: they had to climb that mountain. Anyone who has been to the site of Tabor can realize the difficulty of the ascent: nearly 600 meters and a steep slope. It takes a good part of the day, and the climb would have been more dangerous at that time. Once at the summit, one feels as if looking at the Jezreel Valley (Megiddo or Armageddon) from an airplane window. Tabor is thus a symbol of the cross and of struggle. The ascent was difficult and exhausting for Peter, James, and John, and it tested their strength.
This ascent should remind us of our life on this earth. We have often had to climb, to endure; our strength has been tested. Perhaps it was obtaining a university degree, raising children, or building a career. What do you have that is truly valuable that was not obtained through an ascent, effort, struggle? Most of us know that even though the climb is difficult, there is glory at the summit. We must endure, push through to the end. Life's difficulties are often the prelude to success and greater strength.
Herein lies the paradox: peace, joy, and hope are often the fruit of struggles, climbs, and difficulties. These things are often the prelude to the vision and experience of glory. Scripture says so. We can also rejoice when we encounter problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to be patient. Patience develops in us strength of character and helps us trust God whenever we use it, until our hope and faith are strong and solid (Romans 5:3-4).
You rejoice in this, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:6-7).
Yes, there is a paradoxical prelude to glory, and it can only come from God's wisdom – human beings simply do not think this way. An old hymn says:
"Trials dark on every hand. And we cannot understand all the ways that God would lead us to that blessed promised land. But He guides us with His eye and we follow till we die and we'll understand it better by and by."
The Practices Described
The text sets forth various aspects of how Peter, James, and John come to experience a joyful peace in the presence of the Lord's glory. The text says: "He was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.'" There are three things that Peter, James, and John do that allow them to arrive at this joyful peace:
They see. The text first speaks of the event itself that they see. It uses a word that says the Lord was transfigured (μετεμορφώθη (metemorphothe)), that His appearance was gloriously changed. Although common in Christian vocabulary, this word is in many ways mysterious and difficult to understand. The text provides some information, telling us of a clarity that shone through the Lord, a kind of dazzling light.
But we must not get lost in speculation and miss the main point: Peter, James, and John receive a glorious vision, rays from heaven! Yes, this is Jesus. This is who He truly is. The magnificence of His glory stuns them so much that they fall into wonder.
Have you ever seen or experienced glory? Perhaps it was at the birth of a child, or the announcement of other wonderful news. Perhaps it was a deep experience of relief, or a profound insight in prayer, or during the liturgy. Yes, seek glory and rejoice when it comes!
We must learn to see things as they are. Whatever the trials and struggles, we must endure the path. If we are faithful, our end is glory.
So seek glory and expect to find it. The Lord can and does give us glimpses of glory in our lives, rays from Heaven as we journey onward! Do not minimize the glories when they are revealed. Cultivate a spirit of wonder and awe at what God has done and continues to do in creation and in your life. Glory is all around us. Learning to see this glory is one of the ways God produces peace in us.
They are scriptural.
Notice that the text says Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. Why Moses and Elijah? Because Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets, which is a Jewish way of speaking of the Bible. Thus, another way to produce peace in us is to study the Scriptures. The other day, I "cheated" and looked at the last page of the Bible. I know, we're not there yet, but I looked anyway. Guess what it says? It says that Jesus wins and all who are with Him win too. We must remain rooted in our story. If we stay with Jesus, glory is at the end of our story. Know your Scriptures and, consequently, your history, a history that ends in glory.
They savor. Peter wants to stay on the mountaintop, pitch tents, and not move. Some preachers give him a hard time for this, but I consider it a good thing, even if a bit excessive. It is about savoring the glory, storing good memories and experiences deep in our soul, cultivating a deep gratitude for the wonderful things the Lord has done for us, deeply relishing our experiences of glory.
The Proclaimed Prescription
The text then says: "Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!'" Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
The prescription could not be simpler and yet we follow it so poorly. Listen to Jesus! In other words, carefully ponder every word of His teaching and begin to base your life on what He says.
How much suffering, anxiety, and struggle come into this world and our lives simply because we do not listen to the Lord and do not obey His teachings! Our stubbornness, our lack of forgiveness, our lack of chastity, our greed, our lack of concern for the poor, our idolatry, our lack of spirituality, and the fact that we are often simply mean, bring enormous suffering to us and to others.
If we gave our life to the Lord and asked Him to conform us to His word, so much suffering would disappear. We would have much more peace, joy, and hope.
Listen to Jesus and, by His grace, conform your life to what you hear Him say. There is no better source of joy, peace, and hope.
The Persevering Purpose
The text says: "As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."
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All agree that this experience of glory on the mountaintop was intended to prepare the apostles for the difficult days ahead. Thus, although Jesus tells them to keep it to themselves, He wanted them to keep it, to remember it. Having seen and savored the glory, having "seen what the end will be," having been bathed in the rays of heaven, they must keep the memory alive and remember who Jesus is as the Passion begins. If they succeed, they will be able to endure the madness and suffering of the cross.
Did they succeed in keeping the memory alive? Only John made it to the foot of the cross, but one out of three is not so bad. Having known peace and joy, and having seen the glory of the Lord, John made it to the cross, enduring its shame and remembering the glory he had seen.
What about you? Have you seen the glory of the Lord? Have you experienced His love and glory deeply enough not to be overwhelmed by difficulties? Have you experienced and possessed a peace and joy that the world has not given and therefore cannot take away? Have you allowed the Lord to lay a foundation of hope in your life? Have you let Him take you up the mountain and show you the glory? Have you seen the promised land and have you seen what the end will be? This is what the Gospel describes and promises.
This homily was originally published in English by Monsignor Charles Pope – ADW – Article Link.