Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus. This magnificent event happened on Mount Tabor in Israel. I have written about my experience on Mount Tabor on October 16, 19 my Journal and so have decided to share it with you.
"Today, we shall go to Mount Tabor," announced Benji Shavit, our Tour Director. I was excited! It would be my first time to set foot on the mountain where a momentous event in Jesus' life is immortalized in the Bible. From a distance I saw Mount Tabor, majestic and serene, loom distinctly alone in the Holy Land where mountain ranges abound. I felt the bus start its ascent. It went through a maze of winding roads until it reached an area where around seven or eight tour buses were parked.
"From this point, we shall take cars to reach the top," Benji said. "Don't worry, you will use a Mercedes Benz, four persons to a car," he added with an unmistakable glint in his eyes and a queer smirk on his face.
"Wow, a Mercedes?" Glo Reyes, Vangie Chavez and I chorused. Just then a car followed by another and still another stopped before our group. Yes! They were Mercedes Benzes alright, presumably Circa 1950 or 1960, all in awful need of body shop upgrading. It was worse inside! The floor was covered with scraps of linoleum and flaky shreds of wall covering swayed relentlessly. For many years of use, the cushion on the seat became barely two inches thick so that the iron coils "disturbed" our behind so badly. Can you imagine the sacrifice we experienced as the car went through the narrow road interspersed with many elliptical curves leading to the summit? The speed with which the car ran was nothing short of fast that kept us gasping for breath with an intoned, "Hesus, Maria, Hosep," at each curve. We held on to whatever solit part of the car was available or to each other's knees or arms for support every time we made a swing! Oh my!
However, two things won our admiration - the efficiency of the engine of the car and the remarkable skill of the driver. Whatever the vehicle lacked in aesthetics was amazingly redeemed by the output of its machinery manned by the desterity of seasoned driver's hands. The penultimate test of expert maneuvers was when an incoming car on the way down sidles a few inches away from an ascending one. By virtue of the "Keep Right" rule of the road, our car had to be nearer the cliff was mot at all protected by an enbankment of any kind. Can you imagine four bewildered faces open-mouthed with anticipation what the next moment would bring? It was a jaw-dropping, stomach-churning experience, indeed! So it was with a deep, deep sigh of relief that we exclaimed, "Thank God!" when we finally reached the summit of Mount Tabor and the Basilica of transfiguration.
You will recall that the Bible states that Jesus, Peter, James and John were up in the mountain after several days. Yes, after several days because they had to walk. Mount Tabor is so high and thickly forested and without a defined road then. It would have taken a few days to reach the top. Peter experienced something there he wanted to last forever. He wanted to hold on to the moment of profound mystery. He wanted to gaze upon the radiance of Jesus transformed before him- the Radiance of God! And Peter said, "Lord, it is good to be here." It must have been a mountaintop experience for Peter!
By the way, our own transforming moments in prayer at home, in the office at work or while watching the splendor of a sunset or the breaking of dawn or while walking by the seashore or through the woods on a crisp autumn morn are all "mountaintoop experiences" whether or not we have scaled a mountain. So are the moments we spend alone in our so-called "desert" be it on an easy chair in our room or backyard, beach or just anywhere where we simply keep still and through the sound of silence let God be God!
Jesus went to Mount Tabor and was transfigured. Here, God said."This is my own dear Son with whom I am pleased. Listen to Him." This place is so sacred because it is a memorial of Jesus' divinity just as the Garden of Gethsemane is the site profound for Jesus' humanity.
I looked up at the mosaic apse of the basilica depicting the scene of the Transfiguration. There were Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John. I stood motionless, speechless enveloped with the awesome presence of God. It seemed I heard His voice speaking to me directly,"Listen to Him." I was consumed in prayer of praise and thanksgiving - basking in God's glory!
Like Peter, I said,"Lord, it is good to be here.Thank you for bringing me here." All at once I thought of my family, all my loved ones. I wanted them to enjoy the moment with me. I wanted them to set foot on Mount Tabor, on the mountaintop and feel God's embrace in its panorama. I gazed at the waters of the Sea of Galilee. I remembered St. Peter's fish - tilapia and the abundant life forms in the lake because of the generaous, giving quality of its nature.The Sea of Galilee funnels some of its water to its environs and thus has remained vibrant and fresh since Jesus' time. Unlike its generous counterpart, howeveer, the Dead Sea is just that- dead- dead to the world, the lowest spot on earth where nothing lives or grows. It keeps every drop of water it receives from the river Jordan which is also the source of water of the Sea of Galilee. How these bodies of water dramatize the rewards of hospitable open hands and the miserly closed fists of the various peoples of this earth!
The song of St. Francis reverberated in my ears, "Make me a channel of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring Your love. Where there is discord, harmony, where there is sadness, joy It is in giving that we receive...." In retrospect, I asked myself, "Am I giving enough? Is stewardship a priority in my life?" I remembered the Biblle passage about some men grow richer by giving much away while those who are so cautious in extending help to those in need find themselves deprived by some means or other. It must be that open hands are ready receptacles for God's abundant blessings. Where will He put His bounty on a closed fist? I resolved to look into the matter of my own stewardship more thoroughly.
I took several long breaths of the most fresh air ever. I looked at the azure sky and the cumulus clouds meandeering by and felt the soft caress of the cool breeze. As I glanced in every direction catching glimpses of the greenery and hilly slopes against the quiet waters of the Sea of Galilee, I felt God's Presence like never before. I "floated" in the all-embracing love of God! Again, I bowed my head in prayer,"Thank you, Lord, thank you." I opened my eyes and savored the scenery of verdant valleys below. What a stark contrast with the "valleys" of the city - the careening cars in busy streets, the homeless dotting the sidewalks, the hurried steps of time-constrained office workers, merchants, housewives doing their earrands and many more which make up the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.
Slowly, I straightened myself, pulled my shoulders back and held high my chin. I stood tall with the assurance and confidence of my own humble transformation, so to speak. I walked away ready to face everything buoyed by the memory of Jesus' transformed - Glowing with the Radiance of God!
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