Simple meaning

One of the last things Mom and I talked about during my visit with her last week was the Transfiguration of Christ.  She was telling me that she never really understood the “meaning” of the event.  It’s that way for me, too.  I read St. Mark’s version earlier this week and I’ve pondered the meaning again.  Sometimes we think so much we miss the obvious explanations.  I decided to just read the passage again without trying to find a deep meaning and look for a simple message.   

Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.   And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.  (Wow.  Peter, James, and John got in on all the good stuff!—but that can’t be the simple message.)

 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus.  (Mmmm, Elijah representing the Prophecy, and Moses representing the Law. –Deep, but I’m looking for the simple, remember?)

Oy, vey!  Even the Pope has those moments!

Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents:  one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."   He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.  (I’ve been there; so terrified that I don’t know what to think or how to act, so I act instinctively and usually stupidly—This shows that Peter was a just a simple, humble human being overcome by the circumstances. An "oy, vey" moment. I don’t think there’s a hidden message there, either.)

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."  Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.  (Bingo!  There it is!)

I think the message of this gospel reading is to take the words of God the Father from the Transfiguration as addressed to ourselves.  Just as He called the apostles long ago, God is calling us today to listen to the words of Jesus.  He is asking us not merely to hear the words of Jesus, but to really and truly listen to them.  He is calling us to imitate the apostles in our devotion to the following of Jesus.  God wants us to listen very carefully to the words of Jesus that we hear in sacred scripture and in the teachings of the Church—ALL of the teachings of the church, whether we agree with them or not; even if they aren’t “politically correct”.  There’s an old saying (and if there isn’t there should be!):  There’s no room for the Truth in politics.  We’re seeing plenty of proof of that in today’s society (legalized abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, contraceptives, etc. etc. etc.)