Thursday – Feast of the Transfiguration

Gospel – Matthew17:1-9

Climbing the Mountain

Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor

 Back when I was in the seminary, the Blue Ridge Mountains were our backyard and climbing the mountain right behind the seminary was a rite of passage.  The goal was to head out immediately after breakfast, race to the base, climb the mountain, race back to the Seminary in time for dinner at 6pm.  It was a grueling test of fortitude but the few moments you had at the top surveying the surrounding countryside were incredibly fulfilling, much less awesome and peaceful.

In the Old Testament, mountains are mentioned over 500 times. It was a place where you encountered the divine, where you were 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.  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.

Mount Tabor is a very high, very steep mountain; it has a treacherous, windy, switch-back road with no guard rails with barely enough room for 1 vehicle, much less 2-way traffic.  It is better experienced with your eyes shut.  But the view from the top!!!! Spectacular!  And the time and effort to get there – well worth it!

We have all had mountains to climb, when our minds are occupied with earthly things – health, financial difficulties, family and relationship issues! But we are reminded that our citizenship is in heaven, that these frail human bodies will be transformed into glorified bodies, like what Peter, James and John experience on Mount Tabor, a taste of heaven.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 That is what awaits us all on the mountain top – the Kingdom of Heaven - if we only have the courage and the faith to climb the mountain!

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