"No One Lives 'on Tabor' While on Earth"

This feast became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine, and Coptic rites. The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God, and His Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the divine promise of eternal life.

The New Testament presents three almost identical accounts of the Transfiguration in each of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9; and Luke 9:28-36). They tell us that Jesus went up onto a mountain (traditionally, Mount Tabor), with Peter, John and James, and in their presence He was transfigured, where His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling white as light itself. The three apostles saw Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah, whereupon Peter proposed: "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elias." At this point, a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him."

On, March 13, 2006 Benedict XVI gave an address on the Transfiguration before reciting the midday Angelus with people gathered in St. Peter's Square. As we prepare to welcome this great Feastday next Saturday 6th August 2011, let us meditate prayerfully on his words:



...... Astonished in the presence of the transfigured Lord, who was speaking with Moses and Elias, Peter, James and John were suddenly enveloped in a cloud from which a voice arose that proclaimed: "This is my beloved Son, listen to him" (Mark 9:7). 

When one has the grace to sense a strong experience of God, it is as though seeing something similar to what the disciples experienced during the Transfiguration: For a moment they experienced ahead of time something that will constitute the happiness of paradise. In general, it is brief experiences that God grants on occasions, especially in anticipation of harsh trials.

However, no one lives "on Tabor" while on earth. 

Human existence is a journey of faith and, as such, goes forward more in darkness than in full light, with moments of obscurity and even profound darkness. While we are here, our relationship with God develops more with listening than with seeing; and even contemplation takes place, so to speak, with closed eyes, thanks to the interior light lit in us by the word of God. 

The Virgin Mary herself, notwithstanding the fact that she was the human creature closest to God, walked day after day as though on a pilgrimage of faith (cf. "Lumen Gentium," 58), keeping and meditating constantly in her heart the word that God addressed to her, whether through the sacred Scriptures or through events of the life of her son, in which she recognized and accepted the Lord's mysterious voice. 

This is, therefore, the gift and commitment for each one of us ......:

To listen to Christ, like Mary. To listen to him in the word, preserved in sacred Scripture. To listen to him in the very events of our lives, trying to read in them the messages of providence. To listen to him, finally, in our brothers, especially in the little ones and the poor, for whom Jesus himself asked our concrete love. To listen to Christ and to obey his voice. This is the only way that leads to joy and love. 

..... God the Father instructs us to listen to Jesus, his beloved Son. Let us pray that [we will] open our hearts to Christ and his saving message! He leads us through his suffering and death, to a share in his glorious resurrection.