Dear Parishioners,
Have you thought about the many times a mountain is mentioned
in Sacred Scripture? Often there is an encounter, in some manner, with God.
Think of Abraham and Isaac in today’s first reading. The sacrifice
of Isaac was about to take place on a mountain (Mt. Moriah) before the angel stopped it from happening. Moses
received God’s commandments on Mt. Sinai
(Mt. Horeb). The prophet Elijah
challenged the false prophets of Baal on Mt.
Carmel. Jesus gave us the Sermon on
the Mount on the Mount of Beatitudes
and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane
on the Mount of Olives. Jesus’ disciples
experience His Transfiguration (today’s Gospel) on Mt. Tabor. He died for us
on Mt. Calvary (Golgotha). In these
and other situations, the mountain is the location for encountering God.
In the spiritual life, people frequently describe some
intense religious event as a mountaintop
experience. Perhaps, we might identify the Transfiguration of Jesus as such an experience for the apostles
Peter, James and John. They saw Jesus in His glory. While Moses and Elijah—both
commanding respect and obedience from the Jews—are seen with Jesus, they
disappear. They represented the Law
and the Prophets, respectively, to
the people. However, we are told, Jesus is the one to whom we must
listen! He is the beloved Son of God! He alone!
As you progress through Lent, realize you may experience many
types of situations in the spiritual life.
Perhaps there will be some mountaintop days when the presence of God is
powerful, real and apparent. Other times there may be aridity and dryness in your
prayer, like being in the desert. There may be occasions when you can seem to
be drowning like St. Peter (see Mt. 14: 22-33) and you need Jesus to come to the rescue. Moreover,
there can be times when nothing whatsoever seems to be happening. Is God there?
What God seeks is our fidelity to Him at all times. Emotions are fleeting and circumstances
can change quickly without warning. Our emotions or feelings are not necessarily
the best guides for sanctity or holiness. Many saints have had days of spiritual
darkness (a dark night of the soul) or a tremendous cross or suffering in their
lives. The Lord may allow this for the increase of grace and holiness in us.
Here's some spiritual advice: work to create and fortify virtues (good habits) in your
life. Virtue involves discipline and a regular routine in your spiritual life. Otherwise,
we can develop vices (bad habits) when we fail to pray, fail to
go to Mass and receive Holy Communion weekly, fail to frequent the
Sacrament of Penance, etc. When we find
a fault or weakness in our lives that leads to sin (for example, selfishness), we
should attempt to cultivate the opposite virtue (charity, generosity).
As you read the Scriptures, we see Jesus had to teach, guide,
reprimand and warn his chosen disciples. They did not necessarily
understand Him or comprehend His motives. However, He did perform miracles in
their presence and even allowed some of his closest followers to accompany Him
up the mountain where they experienced His glory. Nonetheless, He gave them all
what they needed to know so that they would find eternal life and salvation in
Him. I suspect He will do the same for you and me in whatever way He sees fit.
Trust Him and be faithful to Him, no matter what.
Our spiritual journey may not necessarily involve some fantastic mountaintop
experience, but it will be whatever God determines is for our ultimate good.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
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