6 August 2015
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Today is the feat of Transfiguration of the Lord. In the Gospel reading, we hear that Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus transfigured before them. Jesus was also joined by Elijah and Moses. Having experienced this amazing transfiguration, Peter wants to stay there and to build three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Jesus does not want to stay on the mountain because He knows that He has to go to Jerusalem to take on the cross. Therefore, Jesus charges his disciples not relate what they had seen in transfiguration except when He is raised from the dead.
In the early days of his Pontificate, Pope Francis said that he want a mess. What he meant by a mess was the ‘Messy,’ alluring Grace. As the Holy Father explains, “We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel.” It is not enough simply to open the door to welcome people in, but we must go out through that door to seek out and meet the people! Let us courageously look to pastoral needs, beginning on the outskirts, with those who are farthest away. … “Go and look for them in the nooks and crannies of the streets.” Basically, the Holy Father does not want us to be like Peter who desires to stay on the mountain top. Rather, he wants us to follow Jesus to Jerusalem to bear the cross.
Like Peter, each of us has our own mountain of transfiguration where we can feel comfortable and where we would like to stay forever. Are we ready to go down the mountain and out to create a “mess” as the Holy Father calls us to do?