This Saturday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration when Jesus appears transfigured before Peter, James, and John, and appears with Moses and Elijah representing the Old Testament Law and Prophets. This is one of my favorite miracles in the Gospels as it involves a change in perspective and sight.
I am always struck by the word transfigured. This passage is really the only place I encounter the word. The closest synonym that I can think of is transformed but even that word means something different. When something is transfigured there is a subjective change. The thing appears different to me. Transformation points to an objective change like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Now maybe Jesus did subjectively and objectively change Peter, James, and John, but even if he didn’t, the three disciples would come down from the mountain with a changed perspective.
It makes me think of two experiences in my personal life. The first has to do with my own eyesight. Of my six immediate family members, I have the worst vision. With -5.75 and -6.00 eyesight, I would not be able to function without my contacts or glasses. Growing up I was always amazed when I left the optometrist with a new prescription. It was like seeing a whole new world. My subjective perception of the world was changed.
The second experience has to do with faith. There are several moments of my life when my understanding of God, Jesus, and the Gospel was dramatically changed. Retreats, sacraments, service trips, and difficulties have all led me up to the mountain where my vision was transfigured. I could never go back to seeing God in the same way after those moments. I don’t think Peter, James, and John could undo what they experienced on the mountain either.
This all seems to be very Salesian to me. Saint Francis de Sales encourages all of us to “Live today well.” It seems impossible to live today well unless we are open to allowing God to change our perspective. The whole Direction of Intention is about transforming our perspective of a particular moment or task and offering it up to God. Saint Francis also insists on changing the way we view our own lives. Whether it’s anxiety, patience, perfection, holiness, or our sins, Saint Francis de Sales has a way of reframing everything.
Of course, this kind of perspective change requires some openness on our part. Just like I must actually go to the optometrist to have my prescription changed, each of us must be willing to climb the mountain and allow our visions to be changed. Are we open to His plan for the day? Are we willing to look at situations through His eyes? Are we able to see our call to holiness in each task given to us? As we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, may we all pray that our own visions of God and our personal life be transfigured.
Paul Cillo
Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry
Our Mother of Consolation Parish (Phila. Pa)
