I love this Sunday's Gospel! It's the story of the Transfiguration. To read it in its entirety, check out http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030412.cfm. In brief, while Jesus is transfigured, Peter, James and John see Elijah and Moses talking with Him. Of course this was a very shocking experience and must have been utterly amazing! Peter, not wanting to miss an opportunity to do the right thing, offers to set up 3 tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. They hear the voice of God, as a cloud descends on them, say, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him."
And then they come down the mountain. They come down feeling confused and knowing they cannot share the things they have just heard and seen with those they love and know. Such a deeply personal and powerful experience and only these 3 have witnessed it. They could not stay on the mountain forever.
And this is why I love this reading. We all have to come down from the mountain. Sometimes, we have a really WOW type of event. We feel so close to God. We never want to leave that place, that moment. We feel like we could just stay there forever. Maybe this has happened to you on retreat or during a time of prayer or just a small point in your life where you felt like everything was perfect. Somehow, even though you knew you didn't know everything, it was enough. You felt peace. And then you had to leave that place. Back to "reality." Was it all real? Could I have really felt that close to God when now I feel so confused and alone? Is any of this real? Yes, it was real. It IS real. Jesus didn't stay on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. Jesus came down with Peter, James and John. He came down with them in their confusion. He came down with them in their doubt. He never left them, even if they still didn't understand what was happening or what had happened on the mountain.
The mountain top experiences give us hope. They give us the strength to make it through our valleys, when we feel so confused and isolated. We don't have to doubt and despair. And just like the 3 disciples, we never come down the mountains alone. Christ is with us!
And then they come down the mountain. They come down feeling confused and knowing they cannot share the things they have just heard and seen with those they love and know. Such a deeply personal and powerful experience and only these 3 have witnessed it. They could not stay on the mountain forever.
And this is why I love this reading. We all have to come down from the mountain. Sometimes, we have a really WOW type of event. We feel so close to God. We never want to leave that place, that moment. We feel like we could just stay there forever. Maybe this has happened to you on retreat or during a time of prayer or just a small point in your life where you felt like everything was perfect. Somehow, even though you knew you didn't know everything, it was enough. You felt peace. And then you had to leave that place. Back to "reality." Was it all real? Could I have really felt that close to God when now I feel so confused and alone? Is any of this real? Yes, it was real. It IS real. Jesus didn't stay on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. Jesus came down with Peter, James and John. He came down with them in their confusion. He came down with them in their doubt. He never left them, even if they still didn't understand what was happening or what had happened on the mountain.
The mountain top experiences give us hope. They give us the strength to make it through our valleys, when we feel so confused and isolated. We don't have to doubt and despair. And just like the 3 disciples, we never come down the mountains alone. Christ is with us!