Dear Parishioners, this weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration. It is such an important Feast that when St. John Paul II gave us the gift of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary it was included as the fourth Luminous Mystery. The Transfiguration is a revelation of the glory of Christ. The context of the Transfiguration is that it takes place on Mt. Tabor and is situated just prior to Our Lord entering into his passion and crucifixion.

Mt. Calvary is the place of Our Lord’s passion and crucifixion. Mt. Tabor is the place of his glory and points to his Resurrection. Our lives live between these two mountains.

Sometimes we have those Tabor experiences of Our Lords consolation and glory and sometimes we are at Calvary experiencing desolation and suffering.

This feast does not simply point to a God who is brilliant upon a mountain. It also prepares us to remain faithful to a God crucified on a mountain. We ourselves have been saved through this vision of Christ in glory and Christ on the cross, and now are continually transformed by both Tabor and Calvary.

Sunday's Gospel:
 

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,

and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

And he was transfigured before them;

his face shone like the sun

and his clothes became white as light.

And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,

conversing with him.

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,

"Lord, it is good that we are here.

If you wish, I will make three tents here,

one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

While he was still speaking, behold,

a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,

then from the cloud came a voice that said,

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;

listen to him."

When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate

and were very much afraid.

But Jesus came and touched them, saying,

"Rise, and do not be afraid."

And when the disciples raised their eyes,

they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,

Jesus charged them,

"Do not tell the vision to anyone

until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."