The Transfiguration

The first Friday of August this year is also the Feast Day of the Transfiguration. This marvelous event is recounted in all three of the Synoptic Gospels: Mark 9:1-8, Matthew 17:1-6 and Luke 9:28-36. We all know from these Gospel accounts that Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where He was transfigured before their very eyes. Also present were two Old Testament giants, Moses and Elijah. Both the law and the prophets is present when Christ's divinity is briefly on display. This occured on Mt. Tabor or often referred to as the mount of the Transfiguration!

The voice of God the Father is heard from the cloud that hovered above the mountain: "This is my chosen Son; listen to Him! At this very moment with the three Apostles present we have the presence of the Most Holy Trinity; the Father's voice echoes, the Son is transfigured and the Holy Spirit is present as well.

Without truly understanding all that was happening, Peter says the words we should repeat often: Lord, how good it is for us to be here!

How good is it for us to be here; the here being wherever Jesus is present. And Jesus is present in our lives, our world, in the people placed in our lives, the Scriptures and most fully; in the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is but one of the many reasons it is good for us to be present; whenever the Mass is celebrated; most especially on Sunday's.

So on this First Friday we celebrate the Transfiguration and we pray that we will listen to Him as we strive to eternal life and we all can say: Lord, how good it is for us to be here!