THURSDAY, EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Transfiguration of The Lord
Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14 Ps 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9 2 Pt 1: 16-19 Mt 17: 1-9
LISTEN TO HIM
The Feast of the Transfiguration invites us to witness the moment Jesus revealed His hidden glory to Peter, James, and John on the high mountain. In silence and wonder, the disciples beheld the face of Christ shining like the sun—a brief, profound encounter where heaven touched earth and the divine beauty of the Son of God was unveiled. The Catechism teaches that this revelation was intended to strengthen the apostles’ faith in anticipation of the Passion; the ascent of Tabor prepares them for the climb to Calvary. Though the Gospels do not specify the exact mountain of the Transfiguration, Christian tradition identifies it as Mount Tabor. For the Carmelite heart, every mountain becomes a symbol of the soul ascending toward God through detachment, prayer and love. Like the disciples, we are invited to ascend the interior mountain of prayer, silence, and contemplation. The presence of Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets—further enriches this mystery. Moses experienced God in fire and Elijah encountered the Lord in a gentle whisper. Elijah, the spiritual father of Carmel, reminds us of the contemplative soul that burns with zeal while listening attentively to the Lord’s quiet voice.
Crucially, Jesus was transfigured while praying. This detail is deeply significant: it reveals that prayer is not merely speaking to God, but resting in His presence and allowing His light to penetrate the soul. This is the goal of all contemplation— communion with the living God. As the Psalmist proclaims, “The Lord reigns,” and all creation is invited into that sacred silence before His glory. The central message of this feast is found in the voice from heaven: “Listen to Him.” This invitation lies at the very heart of the Christian vocation. To listen to Christ in the silence of the heart, to gaze upon Him in contemplation, and to allow His radiant presence to transform us from within—this is our shared journey. Like Peter, we are called to carry the light of Tabor into the world, holding fast to the memory of His majesty even as we navigate the challenges of our own daily ascent.
Response: The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.
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