Powerful Remembrance
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
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. Mt 17:1-9
There was an OFW who was far from his family for the first time. As usual the first weeks were terrible for he sorely missed his loved ones. To console him he looked at photographs of his family after every day of work. Glancing at the photos makes him recall fond memories of times he was with them, giving him hope of repeating those experiences after when he would have returned.
Memories are powerful instruments. They can change a sad situation to a more bearable if not a happy one. Or vice versa as when a successful young professional would hear again the love song he shared with his ex-fiancé and he would cry unashamedly.
Jesus was well aware of the power of remembrances that is why one day He brought Peter, James and John up the high mountain of Tabor where He revealed to them His power as God. Up there He shed His humanity and showed His divinity.
That exhilarating experience would boost their sagging spirits up later on when up another mountain that is Calvary, they would instead see Jesus masking with much blood and suffering even His humanity while dying on the cross. No one of them then would dare look at Him so pitiful would He appear.
In our own lives God gives us good moments to boost us up in our bad moments and to remind us that such depressing times would always lead to a much higher moment in our life. We just have to believe that He is God.
“If you think of committing suicide, remember that I’d rather talk to you than attend your funeral.” For years depression has caused many to take their lives. Judas was no exception. He hanged himself after betraying Jesus because he had none to talk to. Peter too denied Jesus even thrice but afterwards he hid with the apostles in the cenacle. He never thought of death maybe because he was with a group.
Once a guest priest was waiting at the sacristy of the parish church where he was expected to celebrate mass. The sacristan seeing him asked with his hard visayan accent “Are you the priest?” The priest hearing instead “Are you depressed?” answered “No.” After a while the sacristan came back and repeated his question. The priest understanding now what the question was answered, “Yes, I am depressed!”
Jesus was transfigured before Moses and Elijah and was discussing His own passion, death and resurrection. Yet despite the gloomy subject, he appeared glorious maybe because their discussion did not end in death but included the resurrection.
I guess that is the purpose why Jesus showed His transfigured self to Peter, James and John in order to remind them that there is resurrection after death. He foreknew that they would run away depressed when they see Him crucified on the cross.
And so today He showed them His power and divinity to keep in their mind that He won’t be defeated at by either hell not even death. They need not be depressed because there is gain after pain.
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