Listen to Him

     “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 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 clouds 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 prostate 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 the mountain Jesus charged them, ‘Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’”                                                                                                      Mt 17: 1-9                                                                                                                                                                       


     As I went about cleaning my upstairs, my thoughts were riveted on this scripture reading.
    
     It had been quite some time, since I have had a “Tabor” experience. I was most definitely down from the mountaintop, as I forced myself to perform the duty that lay before me.

     My mind immediately went to St. Peter. “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You wish, I will make three tents here.”

     I could relate to his words. I too would like to stay there in all that glory! Building tents to prolong the blessed event, in my opinion, is a wonderful idea! Staying up on the mountain, so close to heaven, is quite tempting. Living our lives down in the valley, is difficult. Forcing ourselves to perform our mundane chores and obligations, can become downright wearisome!

     But the words were no sooner out of Peter’s mouth when God the Father speaks. “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

     Christ came to show and teach the apostles how to become saints. He came to teach them how to live and love fully. Jesus came to show the apostles that it is in following the will of the Father, that they will be living life as God intended. They needed to listen to Jesus and imitate His ways.

     The weight of the Father’s words was powerful! Falling to the ground, they were afraid! But Jesus comes and touches them saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And Jesus accompanied them down from the mountain.     

     Following Jesus, and doing God’s will is not an easy task. Carrying out God’s will is a day by day – some days minute by minute – “yes” we must make, if we are serious about our growth in holiness. Our lives are lived mostly down in the valley.  Mountaintop experiences are not something that God gives frequently. But in His omniscience, God knows when each and everyone one of us is in need of them.

     Although BIG mountaintop experiences are rare, God also gives us little Tabor moments to lift our spirits: a baby’s smile, a beautiful sunset, a compliment from a friend, an unexpected surprise, and many other gifts.

    The most important gift to remember is that we are never alone. Jesus is with us -- down in the valley, as well as on the mountaintop! He tells us not to be afraid! By His life, death and resurrection, He has obtained for us all the graces we need to do everything that God is calling us to do. We must remind ourselves of that fact, when we are tempted to believe otherwise . . . when we do not feel like doing the task at hand . . . when we want to escape to the mountaintop!

     Hold the course instead! Each and every situation in our life can help us to become a saint. We must stretch and exercise our will toward obtaining this goal. Cooperation with God’s grace with bring about this transformation within ourselves. In doing so, we will become another Christ!

     When Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain, they were immediately faced with problems. Jesus did not leave them or forsake them. He stayed to continue to teach and show them how to overcome themselves and place their faith and trust in God –  how to become saints.

     Jesus is doing the same for us. Aware of this, our faith and trust in God transforms us so brightly that the Father will say to each of us, “This is my beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.”