Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Today we have the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He went up the mountain to pray and took Peter, John and James with him.
Mountains almost beg to be climbed. Somehow, since the beginning of time, we have wanted to be on top of a mountain, not at the base of it. It appears that we have a natural desire to be closer to God. Mountains have a way of putting us nearer to the Heavens, if not literally, then certainly spiritually.
Things have greater perspective from the mountaintop. From there we see how large God’s creation is, and how small we are. We see the awesome power of God spread before us.
Mountains are the setting for many of the most spiritual experiences in the Bible. Moses went up a mountain and received the Ten Commandments. Elijah hid on a mountain and God passed by him in the still, small breeze. And now Jesus is on a mountain where God transfigures him and reveals the divine nature of Jesus to those around him.
Mountains are symbols of the way to God. We need to keep going if we want to get to the top. But if you have ever climbed a mountain — or driven up a mountain with its twists and turns — you will soon understand that a mountain is also a symbol of the struggle. We use it in our everyday speech. We say that life is “an uphill battle.” If we have a lot of work to do, we say, “I have a mountain of paperwork waiting for me.” If we are making too much out of something, someone will tell us, “You are making a mountain out of a molehill.”
But without the struggle we cannot get to the top. Without the desire to keep on climbing, we cannot find the view that God wants us to see. Without persevering, we will get frustrated and climb back down where we started. Jesus would say it a different way, “Whoever wants to be my disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
After climbing down the Mount of Transfiguration — which was by all accounts a high point in his life — Jesus had to climb one last mountain: Mount Calvary. The Mount of Transfiguration prepared him for the Mount of Calvary.
And so it is with us. Our highs with God will help us with our struggles. If we set our faces to the top — to God — the struggle of life strengthens us to have courage, trust, patience, and faith.
May we allow Jesus to climb the mountains of life. And when we look on Jesus, may we have ears to hear what God says to us about him: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”