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The Transfiguration of the Lord – August 2017

This Sunday in Ordinary Time falls on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Today is also the anniversary of the Second World War bombing of Hiroshima, and, a few days later, Nagasaki. The Church invites us to pray for peace at this time.

Source: abc.net.au

Speaking to victims of this atomic warfare, Saint John Paul II said: “It is with deep emotion that I greet today all those who still carry in their bodies the signs of the destruction that was visited on them on the day of the unforgettable fire. What you endured has also inflicted a wound on the heart of every human being on earth. … We are indebted to you for the living and constant appeal for peace that you are.”

John Paul also reminded his listeners that their lives are an appeal that could be addressed to all people of goodwill, “against war and for peace.”

The Transfiguration holds a significant spiritual lesson for each of us as we seek peace in our personal lives in an increasingly violent and frightening global environment.   We are tempted to hold on to mountaintop experiences, to run to places where we find that peace

. But, like the companions of Jesus in the Gospel, we have to descend from the mountain and return to our ordinary lives, even into that scary world. Think of a literal mountaintop experience.

When we stand on the top of a mountain or large hill, we pause and look back at the physical journey we’ve traveled and look ahead to the return to the ground with the energy and exhilaration of the peak experience. The spiritual journey isn’t so different. How do we carry that inner peace into our world?

Source: summitposts.com

Peter, John and James have a privileged moment with Jesus. They are witnesses to the Transfiguration and to the dialogue Jesus has with Moses and Elijah. While Jesus was praying, “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.” The disciples knew that something significant took place on the mountaintop.

Peter spoke for them. “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” How wonderful it would be to stay here in this beautiful moment!

However, Jesus has work to accomplish. He was speaking with Moses and Elijah about his movement toward Jerusalem. His encounter on the mountaintop deepens his energy and zeal for the mission. Our world is always in need of our prayer and work for peace.

Our mountaintop experiences may look and feel different than the Transfiguration of Jesus. But that is not to deny their significance. Have you ever had a profound spiritual experience? Have you had a deep sense of God’s presence?

Have you been in a difficult situation in life when you have an unexplained moment of peace where you realize God’s reminder to you, “Don’t worry! Fear not! I’ll be with you.” Peak experiences don’t have to be profound moments of prayer.

Source: corymcglone.com

They don’t even have to be confined to religious experiences. It’s just a felt sense that all is right with my world and that God hasn’t abandoned me. I am able to continue choosing to live in a world that cries out for peace. These moments don’t come along every day and they may not last more than a few minutes.

The grace of those transformative moments has the potential to give us power when we most need it. They lift us out of self-pity. We cannot stay on the mountaintop, but we can carry within us that memory of the mountaintop.

One of the suggestions that St. Ignatius offers for dealing with consolation in our lives is to prepare ourselves for the ensuing desolation: “Store up a supply of strength as defense against that day.”

Source: clangelfund.com

We emerge from that moment of peace with the same issues as before. My physical situation hasn’t changed. My financial struggles are still there. I still struggle to relate to problematic people. I haven’t conquered my sinfulness. But, even if just for a moment, I’ve found peace.

As we continue our journey, let us be as open as we can be to the reception of God’s grace and the transformative moments that can sneak into our ordinary lives.