Master it is good for us to be here...

Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Luke 9:28-36

An image of the Transfiguration, apparently Saints Dominic and Catherine of Siena were there too!

Returning from Chinese food, Brian and were walking in through Firmum Est, and as we entered the corridor on zero-level we could look up through the big windowns and see the dome of Saint Peters illuminated and sort of hoovering over the college. At that moment I thought, "Wow - it is good for us to be here..." And I really do mean that -- last year was very difficult, but -- it's good for us to be here. Even in the difficulties I can say -- wow, it was good that I was here. This brought me to reflect on the Transfiguration of the Lord. Since the disciples -- Peter, James, and John said, "It is good for us to be here..." They were invited to see the Lord Transfigured before there eyes, and the vision was so amazing that they wanted to remain in it. This was not the Lord's mission though. He lived in the glory as bright as flashing lightning, even if it was hidden while here on earth. His mission was that each of us should live in that same glory, for as Paul writes, "He predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ." And we were adopted through the Blood of the Cross. This is why Jesus was discussion the fulfillment of his departure in Jerusalem with Moses and Elijah, and this is why they could not stay up on the mountain.

Mosiac representation of the Transfiguration from the apse of the church at Mouth Tabor, traditional location of the Transfiguration

We follow the same path as the Lord. We will be glorified like him, as bright as flashing lightening. This Transfiguration is given a name in among our brothers of the Eastern Christians, deification -- in other words: becoming God like. This starts here and now. For me being in the seminary is a big part of this transformation. I can see how I have been transformed during this past year. It has been great. But this "way of transfiguration" must follow the same way that the Lord took, and this is the "Way of the Cross." This means suffering. There is much suffering in the world, and in our own lives, so I am not saying seek out to suffer more. What I am saying is seek out to let this suffering be a gift -- yes a gift -- a gift to the Lord. He has the power to Transfigure this suffering into our glory -- this is the promise that Easter holds.