Homily, March 13, 2022

Readings: Genesis 15:5-12,17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28-36

As we know, our lives are a mixture of a ‘mountain-top experience’ and a ‘valley experience.’ Jesus’ prediction of his suffering and death followed by the transfiguration reveals this truth in clear terms. 

Interpreted in our own life-context, the mountain-top experience is when there is peace, happiness, prosperity, physical well-being, stable relationships and a general feeling of fulfilment and contentment. The valley experience is that when things don’t seem going right in our lives, when failures and losses befall us, when we are misunderstood and betrayed by others, when relationships threaten to break, when loneliness stalks us, when grief overwhelms us, and life seems at its edge. In the verses preceding today’s passage, Jesus already predicted his passion, suffering and death (the valley experience). He spoke about carrying one’s cross as a prerequisite for discipleship.

When we know that suffering is going to befall us it is natural that we will look gloomy and pale, and people can notice it. But here at the Transfiguration Jesus is looking radiant in glory (the mountain-top experience). This scene suggests that when we take up our cross in God’s name, we receive strength and grace from the Lord to carry it. The voice of God “This my Chosen Son, listen to Him” is not just an endorsement of the Jesus-mission of redemption but an affirmation that God is always “well pleased” when we are willing to carry our cross and follow Him. When you are busy carrying your cross be sure that God is also busy weaving a crown for you. Your crown is not somewhere beyond the grave, but in this life itself.

Life’s journey is through thorns and roses, mountains, and valleys. How often do we experience absurdities in life, leaving us filled with doubt and with the question: Where is God in all this? Think of the people of Ukraine today with all what they have to endure, and they ask, “Where is God when this is going on?” Others are traumatized by their experience of social injustice. They apply for a job but see people less qualified than they get the job because of having the right connections. They see forceful people advancing in society through unfair means and they ask: Where is God when this is going on? Or you may know someone undergoing personal and family crisis.

At times like these we need to climb the mountain of prayer and ask God to open our eyes that we may see. Prayer opens our hearts to the life-changing power of the risen and gloried Lord. And when God grants us a glimpse of eternity, then we realize that all our troubles in this life are short-lived. Then we have the courage to accept the suffering of this life, knowing that through it all God is on our side, knowing that the cross of Lent is followed by the victory of Easter.

The transfiguration of Jesus gives hope that we might reach that same destination. All of us are called to climb this “mountain” of prayer. We need to go apart from the crowd, to climb the mountain into a place of silence, to find ourselves and perceive better the Lord’s voice. But we can’t stay there at the top of the mountain. The encounter with God in prayer urges us to come down from the mountain and return to the bottom where we encounter so many brothers and sisters weighed down by sickness, loneliness, disillusionment, and spiritual poverty. To these brothers and sisters in difficulty, we are called to bring the fruits of the experience that we have had with God, sharing the graces we have received. We are to give them hope. 

Dear friends, when you find it hard to trust God in the valley experience of life, just think of the little chickens under the wings of a hen. There is darkness under its wings and the little chicks cannot see anything, yet they feel the warm, reassuring protection of their mother. As the Psalmist puts it, “The Lord will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings we will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and your rampart.” (Ps 91:4).

Remember: Jesus becomes Messiah through suffering. Struggle and suffering are a process to attain glory and to enjoy a spark of the divine. Whether in the valley or on the mountain-top, we have the affirmation of God, for the God in the valley is the same God on the mountains. We can along with St Paul say; “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor.5/7). This is not blindness; it is actively entrusting our lives to the God who loves us.