Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

 Lectionary: 614

For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.

Celebrations of every sort take us back to the origin of things. Family reunions are steeped in the past with memories and memorabilia; they remind us where we came from and almost invariably set plans for future reunions. Even if the elders suppose this may be the last time, younger attendees plan a future of gatherings, zoom, emails, and texts. 

But parades, banquets, and sporting events are also ceremonies steeped in the past with an acute awareness of the present and every intention to gather again in the not-distant future. Will there ever be a last Superbowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, or FIFA World Cup? Of course not! Perish the thought! Will there ever be a last democratic election of legislators, governors, and presidents in the USA? It's unthinkable.

Our faith also makes present -- that is re-presents -- moments in what the world considers a distant and irrelevant past. We were there on Mount Tabor when Jesus was transfigured, as Saint Peter says, 

"We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain."

And, as Saint John says, 

We have seen his glory. (John 1:14)

Our sacraments take us further and deeper than parades, banquets, sporting events, and elections. The Lord is with us in this moment as George Washington and Babe Ruth never can be. He is with us as we eat his flesh and drink his blood; He is with us as we become his flesh and blood. That expression might be heard at a family reunion but it comes to life for us during the Mass. We might return home from a family reunion, but we never leave the Eucharist

The Transfiguration of Jesus clearly anticipated a future event, although the disciples Peter, James, and John could not imagine what it might be, or how it might change their lives forever. Nor can we. We only know we've come a long way from our lives of sin into this life of grace.

And for that we give thanks, and look forward to a deeper, more wonderful transformation when our faces also shine with the glory of God.