Sunday – Feast of the Transfiguration

Gospel – Matthew 17:1-9

Climb Every Mountain

Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor

I live in a house divided!  Ever since she was born, our daughter Jaime has either lived with us or, after she married, lived just minutes away from us!  Until now!  Late in May, she, our son in law Josh, and our 2 grandsons, Nate and Tyler, packed up all their belongings and moved to Tennessee. A simple minutes-long drive to their house for dinner or to help Josh with a project has turned into an 8 hour road trip.  Things just aren’t the same anymore! 

However, we have been able to visit them a couple of times over the summer and it has been magical.  Their ‘homestead’ now covers 15 acres in the middle of the Smoky Mountains, including a huge barn, chicken coop, lots of sheds and a beautiful house nestled on top of a hill.  They even own the mountain in their back yard.  It is simply beautiful to sit on the front porch and breathe the country air and savor the sunrises, the sunsets, the storms coming over the mountains.  It has already become a place of peace and quiet, a comforting, stress-free place!  A place where the family is re-united and live in love and contentment!

But eventually the visit ends much too soon and we have to return home!  And that just tears us apart!  To leave such a place of joy and peace, to leave our family!  But we must!  And as soon as we get home, we immediately start planning on how and when we can go back!  Back to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!

Mountains!  In the Old Testament, mountains are mentioned over 500 times. It was a place where you encountered the divine, where you were literally closer to God.  Mount Ararat – where Noah’s ark came to rest and God made first covenant.  Mt. Sinai where Moses met God, received Ten Commandments and his face shone white.  The Mount of Olives where Jesus often went to pray.  Mount Zion where the Temple was built.  Mount Hebron where God makes his covenant with Abram.  Mount of Beatitudes on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus gave us the New Law.  And Mount Tabor where today’s Gospel takes place.  Where Jesus is transfigured, and Peter, James and John encounter the divine!

And what they found at the summit of that mountain brought them such wonder and joy, such peace, that all they wanted to do was pitch tents and remain there with Jesus, Elijah and Moses.  It was a place of beauty and comfort, far away from the cares and the stresses of the world!  And they didn’t want to leave, to leave the experience, to leave their Creator, their heavenly family!

And that is what resonates with me today.  We are all living in a divided house, separated from Our Father in Heaven, separated from our loved ones who have gone before us.  As much as those Tennessee mountains are a place of peace and comfort, where my family reunite in love and away from the stresses of life, how much more so is the Kingdom of Heaven where we will all reunite with our Father and each other. 

But that is the challenge for all of us!  To see beyond the struggles of this life!  To put in the effort and, like Peter, James and John, to climb that mountain and gather together at last as one family in Christ!

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 6, 2023 at 9:30 AM

    Deacon Frere what a wonderful Homily you gave today shareing your family experience with the Gospil Every ine I know who go to Tenn Say the same thing They are so Happy the country side so lovely Thank you for shareing Have a Blessed Sunday you and your family Yours in Christ Robyn🙏🙏🙏🙏

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deacon BillAugust 6, 2023 at 10:50 AM

    Thanks Robyn! Continued prayers for you and your family!

    ReplyDelete

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