No matter how influential you are, no matter how expensive your car is, no matter how many loving people surround you, no matter how grandiose your house is, if you have, even for a few seconds, a chance to visit heaven, you would not care about coming back here to what you have.

The Gospel pericope gives a glimpse of such a mountaintop experience. Jesus undergoes a metamorphosis, a change of form. Moses and Elijah, who personify God’s revelation (the Law and the Prophets), speak of Jesus’ exodus, which is the “passing over” from slavery to freedom. Jesus will accomplish this by his passion. Thus, Jesus’ identity and mission are revealed to his most intimate disciples.

Peter and his companions are overwhelmed by their experience. Peter wants the “high moment” to last a lifetime and so proposes that tents or booths be put up on the mountain. He misses the point of the experience. It is to strengthen them when they descend to the plains and go up again to Jerusalem where, in his passion, Jesus will appear as one of those from whom people hide their faces. Behind the rejected face is the face of the chosen Son.

Even while on earth God showers us with glimmers of heaven: when we contemplate the face of a newborn child, when we look into the eyes of the person we love, when we adore Christ in the tabernacle, when we see the beauty of God’s creation, and when our pets greet us with excitement as soon as we open the door, among others. Those moments, however fleeting, seem like forever as we experience God’s palpable presence.

The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” Abram went as the Lord directed him.

“Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”

Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”