The Transfiguration of Jesus took place at Mount Tabor

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to join a group on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of the places we visited was Mount Tabor, the traditional site of the Transfiguration, where the beautiful Basilica of the Transfiguration was built.

All buses stop at a terminal located halfway through the summit. The road that continues to the top is quite stiff and narrow. It is only passable using smaller cars.

You could see the mountain’s slopes from the right side of the car, which was not pleasant for those with fears of height. Our driver calmed everybody down by mentioning that he had been driving this route since he was 18. He was 48 at that time. A 30-year experience on his belt was indeed comforting for passengers to know.

Most, if not all, tour drivers plying the slopes of Mount Tabor are from Bedouin families who have been traversing the slopes from generation to generation. This job is second nature to them.

The beautiful scenery at the Basilica made up for the dizzying experience of driving those curvy roads. Pine trees, lush gardens, and different kinds of flowers and plants line the street to the church. The walk from the gate was an opportunity to reflect on the story of the Transfiguration.

The Gospels narrated that Peter, John, and James witnessed the changing of Jesus’ appearance with bright light as a flash of lightning. The bright light may relate to clouds, which are associated with the presence of God. This event heralds the Divine identity of Jesus. Jesus received an affirmation from God through a voice from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him (Luke 9:35).  The same affirmation also took place during Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

The disciples saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah, two significant figures of the Old Testament. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the prophets. Jesus embodies the lawgiver and prophet who would bring another exodus to benefit Israel and all people. The location on the mountain conjures to Mt. Sinai, where God revealed Himself to Moses and Elijah.

The Transfiguration was the sign that Jesus was ready to move to Jerusalem. According to Fr. John Kilgallen, a Bible scholar, “Jesus offers the vision of Himself glorified, in the hope that the three disciples’ glimpse of the Lord transfigured, a glimpse into the reality which reveals His power and majesty, will encourage His disciples to profess their faith in Him courageously.”

The Transfiguration occurred shortly before Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin His Passion. The distinctive placement of the Transfiguration right after the prophecy of Jesus’ death in Jerusalem has a purpose. The Transfiguration is a way of revealing to the disciples the glory of Jesus. This event encourages them to keep them strong at the crucifixion.

 Reflection:  “Every cloud has a silver lining”

Florence May Chadwick, an American swimmer, was the first woman ever to cross the English Channel both ways in 1950. On the 4th of July 1952, Florence, then 34, had set her goal of being the first woman to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California coastline, just two years before her victory in Europe.

Florence swam hour after hour. However, after about 15 hours, a thick, dense fog set in. Florence began to doubt her ability. She told her mother and her trainer, who were in one of the boats that she didn’t think she could make it. But they encouraged her to persevere. They told her you are not that far from the shore!

Florence returned to the water to continue competing. This time was different. She swam from Catalina Island to the shore of California in a straight path for ten miles, remembering her past journey in winning major competitions. She also kept a mental image projecting that the coast was directly behind the fog. She remained focused on her goal to win. Indeed, Florence became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel, eclipsing the men’s record by two minutes!

We may be able to connect to Florence’s experience in our day-to-day life. At times, we live in a fog of uncertainty. Various relational, financial, and health problems might have affected us. At times, we might have felt hopeless. We might have thought of giving up because we don’t have the strength to stay above the surface.

The Transfiguration story is Jesus’ way of telling His disciples and followers to remember the big picture. God has sent Jesus to bring us to a place of peace and glory. When our cross is heavy, let us look beyond the pain of the present moment and remember when we have had glimpses of God.

Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ transformation amidst the splendor of holiness on the mountain. This experience is not only available to the disciples. We can also witness God’s eternal glory to shine forth among us.

We surely can experience God’s transforming presence in many kinds of circumstances. We have glimpses of God’s presence in the celebration of the Sacraments; when badly needed help suddenly comes to us from out of nowhere; when we look back over our lives and realize that absurd past events make so much sense in the present; when we see someone making a sacrifice to help others in need; and when we appreciate the beauty of a beautiful day.

The Transfiguration story encourages us to look beyond the pain of the present moment and remember when we had glimpses of God. Consider Florence Chadwick’s words, “I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.” Christians may refer to the shore as Jesus, our source of comfort, peace, and glory.

In the Transfiguration, Jesus showed His glory to His three disciples. He is also showing the same glory to us. Amid the challenges in our lives that seem like a thick fog, we can see behind it, our shore, who is Jesus. Let us remain patient and strong. Let us not think of giving up. Every cloud has a silver lining.