Gospel Reflection on Lk 9:28b-36

March 16, 2025

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. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,

“Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said,

“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

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Every year, we tell this story about disciples climbing a mountain in order to see clearly. At the top of this mountain, the climbers began to see that suffering and death do not have the last word, that there is life beyond suffering, that there is resurrection beyond death. One of the climbers, Peter, saw this future and wanted to stay in that dream. But Peter forgot that it can only be reached by making the climb. All of creation has a bright future, but creation and we alongside creation are groaning as we endure the birth pains of that future.

All of us long to see the inexpressible beauty of God that lies in our future. But this beauty can only be seen when we've undergone a journey, when we've climbed a mountain. And this is our challenge. We live in a culture of leisure, entertainment, and self obsession. If the disciples fell asleep during this climb, how much more are we asleep?

I'm constantly distracted by my online activities and other superficial things. Lent is a journey to seek out the root of a more authentic life. And to be honest, we often start out reluctantly, unwilling or reluctant to fast or pray or give ourselves to others. The most superficial part of me wants to stay numb, to ignore the discomforts of reality. But this superficiality is the greatest obstacle to authentic beauty.

If we are to behold the beauty of God, then there is a mountain that must be climbed, a cloud that must be passed through, a sleep that must be resisted, a darkness that must be endured. The same darkness that all women and men of holiness have passed through. The beauty of God and our own beauty lies beyond the mountain of fasting, prayer, and donations. May we persevere and climb that mountain to discover the beauty of God.