THROUGH UNTRUE

Maricel deeply admires her husband, whom she considers handsome, wealthy, and popular. She, on the other hand, thinks of herself as ordinary and unattractive. Every time she looks in the mirror, she questions why her husband chose her as his wife. She feels unworthy of his love. One day, she mustered the courage to ask him why he chose her. He sweetly smiled at her and replied, “I chose you because I love you. You will always be my beloved.” He then affectionately kissed her. Neuroscientists suggest that our reflection in the mirror is not always a true representation of ourselves, but rather a mental construct influenced by our thoughts and social conditioning. Maricel perceived herself as unattractive because she had been conditioned to do so. Consequently, she believed that she did not deserve her husband's love. But the genuine affirmation of her husband changed her. Or, more precisely, she underwent a transition that enlarged her perspective. Change and transition are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct concepts. Change refers to any observable modification, while transition is an internal process that occurs when we respond to change. Her husband’s sincere affirmation not only changed Maricel’s perception of herself, but also helped her transition from being a person constantly plagued by feelings of inadequacy to a person who is assured of her husband’s love, regardless of her perceived imperfections. It was a transfiguration experience for her. Today’s gospel reading narrates the transfiguration of Jesus. The disciples who witnessed it saw “Jesus’ face shining like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2). Although these dramatic changes in Jesus’ appearance are noteworthy, they should not distract us from the transition that He underwent. This miraculous event happened shortly before He experienced the betrayal by His closest friends, the insults and ingratitude of people who refused to believe Him, and the excruciating pain of abandonment that would make Him scream those words from Psalm 22: “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” Since He is also human like us, Jesus must have been greatly tempted to indulge in self-doubt and insecurity. But during the transfiguration, a voice came from the bright cloud that enveloped Jesus, declaring: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5). Those affirming words reminded Him of His true identity and destiny, and assured Him that the tortured and bloodied image of a man crucified on the cross can never replace or erase the reality that He is God’s beloved. The transfiguration revealed who Jesus was, and it strengthened His resolve to fulfill His mission. In contrast, the transfiguration many people today experience often hides or distorts who they are. They transition to become someone else because they are unhappy with themselves. Some individuals undergo hormone therapy, surgery, and social and legal changes to align their physical body with their desired gender identity. Others subject themselves to painful medical and cosmetic procedures so they can resemble fashion models and celebrities whom they admire. We are all God’s beloved. Accepting this should help us transition into people with a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-acceptance, regardless of our flaws and imperfections. If we are not happy with ourselves, no makeovers or physical changes can bring us peace and contentment. Beyoncé’s song “Pretty Hurts” captures this sentiment well: “You can’t try to fix something that you can’t see. It’s the soul that needs the surgery. Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far, then you break when the fake facade leaves you in the dark. When you’re all alone by yourself, when you strip away the masquerade, and the illusion has been shed, the question remains: “Are you happy with yourself?’”