Holy Mountains are the places where the heaven touches the earth and where the human heart is very close to God. Sacred places of worship are usually located on the top of the mountains where a serenity of life is a natural experience - a moment of happiness in which a human being feels removed from and relieved of the world.

The transformation in the appearance of Christ is recorded in the Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke (Mt. 17:1-9; Mk. 9:1-9; Lk . 9:28-36).   Going up a high mountain with Peter, James, and John, He was transfigured, i.e. while His body retained its form, it began to shine, His face becoming like the sun, His garments like snow (or like a shining light).   The glorious transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain in the presence of His disciples came after He predicted His suffering and death and told His followers that they must follow Him. Undoubtedly they found his sayings hard to hear.   He had to go to Jerusalem , endure great suffering and be put to death, Jesus told them: “Anyone who wishes to be a follower of mine must renounce self, take up his cross and follow me”. Peter, as usual reacting for the others, protested “Heaven forbid! No, Lord, this shall never happen to you.” Most likely he was also thinking: “Nor should it happen to me, either.”   

In answer to His disciples' misgivings, Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain and was transfigured before them. They saw His face shining like the sun and His garments brilliant white. They were filled with awe as they realized His glory was also theirs, a glory not only to be experienced in His future kingdom, but also here on earth.   In the context of the approaching crucifixion and death, Jesus undergoes the fear of death, and the conflict of the approach-avoidance: to suffer or not to suffer, to live or to die. The disciples also undergo the same conflict: to follow or not to follow their master, to escape from death or to face death courageously. In this painful stress of His inner struggle Jesus takes Peter, James and John with him, while they too experience the trauma of indecision, self-doubt and conflict.

In moments of adversity the presence of an understanding community is a great encouragement. The company of Moses and Elijah, the two figures of Old Testament, who led the people to freedom from human oppression and fear of demons, is a sure source of encouragement and strength.

To be happy one essentially needs a gradual revelation of the calling of one's own life. A struggling soul is often comforted by experiences of bliss and excitement, if he/she has a genuine reason to fight for. One is able to accept and bear within oneself only as much suffering as one has experienced happiness. Jesus experienced an unconditional acceptance of His father' love and experience of deep love and hence He was able to walk down from the “mount of Tabor of transfiguration to Golgotha , the mount of suffering. A person who has not experienced love at its deepest level will never have the strength to walk up to the mountain of Golgotha of hatred, oppression and intimidation. Only the experience of love by an absolute person of God can calm the human fear of death. Love does not count the losses. Love has the power to transform the pain of death to a life giving resurrection. Love can transform you and enable you to see the glory of God.

The letters of Peter, influenced by his experience, promise that we will share God's glory even now, in this present life. Even now, the dark places here and now can shine if we hold them up to the light of faith. (2 Peter 1:16-19) It is not God's will that the cross should burden us too much. Even now, Jesus reveals His glory to us wayfarers that we may rejoice. Even now, we can see manifestations of God's glory in our earthly lives - brief encounters, transitory moments, transfigurations of a lesser kind, as Jesus leads us to the mountain to see His glory.   

In this encounter Jesus is encouraged and strengthened to face the fear of death. Peter, James and John weak in their conviction on the meaning of suffering and willful death are also encouraged to follow Christ. At this decisive moment of doubt, glorification is the answer. “Listen to Him”.   This means that the disciples have to follow him on his way to suffering and death before being raised to heavenly glory. It also means that they have to spend their lives in selfless, suffering service for others with the assurance of being raised from the dead.   

Only by truly listening to Jesus, will they be able to break their silence of submission and withstand the opposition of the Jewish community in the days to come. The fight against the organized religions of the world, the fight against man's greed for money and power, the fight against the oppression of the individual freedom of expression and worship, fight against the chain of violence perpetuated by autocratic systems of rule in the secular and religious domains must be continued by the disciples of Christ. The disciples have to listen in total love and admiration of the master. They must believe in His power and life. Without true faith in the values of Jesus the disciple's life is a disaster to himself and the world.

The event of transfiguration is a transformation from fear and cowardice to the glory and strength of conviction and courage. The eternal challenge a disciple encounters in his/her life is this: Will he or she listen and submit himself or herself to the compelling inner voices of intimidation and oppression or listen to Jesus and take up the cross of protest and sacrifice and transform himself or herself in the glory of God?

 

Homily taken from the book ‘In the Path of Awareness' Jose Puthenveed (p.71-73)