Gospel Reflection
“This is my Son, I love him. Listen to what he says.” If you have been following the Gospel readings for the past few weeks, we may have heard these words before. They were said when Jesus rose out of the water after he was Baptised in the River Jordan by his cousin John the Baptist. It is clear that God wants this message to get through to us – Jesus is his beloved Son and we should listen to him.
In the Gospel this Sunday (Luke 9:28-36) we see Jesus going up to a mountain, Mount Tabor in current day Israel, together with his close disciples, Peter, James and John. There on the mountain Jesus changed his appearance – he was transfigured. His clothes became a dazzling white before the great prophets of the Jewish people Moses and Elijah appeared and were speaking with Jesus.
For Peter, James and John, who were used to seeing Jesus just like any other human being, just like us, this was amazing. While they followed him due to his teachings and witnessed his miracles, the idea of following a great rabbi had happened before in Jewish history with other prophets. It is not until this very important event, the Transfiguration, that the disciples really see and believe that Jesus is God the Son. It is in this moment that the disciples see Jesus’ divinity.
In 2015, I was lucky enough to be a participant in the Sydney Catholic Schools Abrahmic Faiths pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. It was a very big deal for me. I had never travelled alone, without my husband or family, and I had never been a part of an immersion or pilgrimage experience. I was not travelling with a friend or companion, and despite taking part in the pre-pilgrimage meetings, I really knew no-one very well. I was completely out of my comfort zone.
Our group travelled to Mount Tabor on our second full day in the Holy Lands. It was January and on this day, very cold and wet. We travelled to the Church of the Transfiguration up winding roads in smaller groups of eight in small buses. We ran from the buses under umbrellas and jackets with our heads down to avoid the rain. Once inside we were surprised to find a beautiful mosaic chapel and Fr Paul, our chaplain on the pilgrimage said Mass – using this Gospel reading Luke 9:28-36. We prayed and took eucharist and after we took photos in the Church. It was beautiful and our first Mass in a church in the Holy Lands (we had Mass at the site of the Baptism of Jesus on the River Jordan the day before and on Mount Nebo in Jordan the day before that!).
I will never forget how we walked out of the church to the brilliant sunshine. It was like the readings had come to life. Now, every year when I hear this reading in church and listen to my priest’s homily, I think about Mount Tabor, my pilgrimage, the group of teachers I journeyed with and how the trip changed the course of my life, and brought me closer to God.
Transfiguration changes all of our lives. The story of the Transfiguration takes place at an important time in the gospels. It is right after Jesus has taught his disciples that he must suffer and die, before being raised from the dead. Eight days after that, our gospel teaches us, Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray and to be transfigured. He speaks to the great prophets of the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, about his end of time in Jerusalem. Finally a voice from heaven says: “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Jesus is God’s Son. The story of Jesus hangs on his divinity, and the story of the Transfiguration shows us that divinity.
Prayer for this week
Prayer for this weekO Lord,
Thank you for reminding me that you love Jesus,
Who followed your will and died for our salvation.
May you always help me to listen to Jesus and his teachings,
And give me strength to live out those teachings in my life.
Amen.
