On this Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, my soul is filled with so many memories of how my spiritual life has transformed over the past decade. I have memories of going to church as a child with my family. I know I went to CCD classes for confirmation prep, but truthfully most things went in one ear and out another. I remember feeling like my faith was at my peak in high school, but college hit, and everything fell apart. I have gone through many ebbs and flows of faith, but isn’t that the beauty of it? It never is stagnant, and I am reminded of that especially today.
As most of you know the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus is a huge part of our mission and identity at the Farm; we read it every Saturday to our groups as part of closing prayer. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain to show them His true divine self in the flesh. He is clothed in white and glistens in the sun as God identifies him as the Son of God. I think of this image a lot as I can only imagine what Peter, James, and John felt in that moment. They were probably terrified at the sight of Jesus’s true self. As I am terrified at the sight of society’s true self in the present day.
When describing my faith journey, I usually use vocabulary like holy highs and lost lows. I remember the first time being at the Farm as a high school student I definitely experienced that holy high of never wanting to come down the mountain. It felt almost impossible to experience that high again, and as I left down the mountain, I just accepted that I was not going to feel it again. But, as time passed, I understood why it was so important, why I had to, just like Peter, James, and John, come down the mountain and live my life with my miracle.
It is so easy to want to hide on top of the mountain and pitch a tent just as Peter recalls in his Gospel, especially today. During our current health and human rights crisis, I only want to hide up on the mountain with Jesus more, but that is not what He calls us to do. The miracle of the Transfiguration, although did not provide much material significance, has taught us arguably one of our most important lessons as Catholics. While there will be many moments of joy and holy highs, there will also be times in life of lost lows when we must weather the storm with Christ. Moments when we will have to bear our cross and our neighbors cross, patiently waiting for our miracle of coming face to face with the Divine Jesus Christ.
God gave us the beautiful gift of the miracle of Jesus’ Transfiguration to show us what is yet to come, only after going through this difficult life. So today, on the Feast of the Transfiguration, I hope you are reminded of your times up on the mountain where you were able to experience your miracle, and be reminded that something even greater is yet to come.
“Listen to Jesus and follow him. That’s the message of the Transfiguration” ~ Pope Francis
-by Erin Rederscheid, current staff member