Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
Luke 9:28b-36
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 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 must believe that He is God.
“If you think of committing suicide, remember that I’d rather talk to you than attend your funeral.” Posts like this have been coming up in the web quite often. It might be because 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.
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.
Let us not forget that Lent does not stop at Christ’s death but transforms into His resurrection. Similarly, every depression will blossom into even greater consolation. This we ought to remember at every ebb tide we go through.
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