'Stuck' on the Mountain

Today after lunch we were stuck at the top of a mountain for almost an hour. The Church was closed for lunch so we couldn’t get in and the shuttles needed to take us to the bottom weren’t running. The entire class was thankful, for we were at the top of Mt. Tabor, the mountain of the Transfiguration, by ourselves.

The class dispersed into the gardens, terraces and ruins that surrounded the large central church. A sense of quiet and peaceful prayer descended onto the mountain top. At times all was complete silence apart from the occasional click of a camera as we tried to hold onto a moment of importance.

Each of us was grappling with what the transfiguration means in our own lives. For me I kept returning to something the guide said about Mt. Tabor. It had long been used by the Jews as a signal mountain. A fire would be set in Jerusalem and then those on Mt. Tabor would light their fires. This was so that the most important feasts in Israel could be celebrated simultaneously, as one.

Jesus also used light to send a message. However, this time the signal was heading to Jerusalem and from there to the whole world. Jesus, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, is the Son of God and revealed his transforming light.

This message is still being sent today to all the ends of the earth. That transformative light also continues to shine. It is ready to change and transform us into signal fires to send out His message if we are willing.