Mount Tabor.

Anyone who has been to the mountains knows that it is an exceptional place: perhaps the beautiful views, the world seen as if from a bird’s eye view, all this makes us feel closer to Heaven, closer to God in the mountains. In such an atmosphere on the hills, the Transfiguration of the Lord, spoken of in today’s Gospel, took place. The evangelists inform us that when Jesus revealed his Divinity – confirmed by the voice of God the Father: This is my beloved Son, listen to him” – he was preparing the apostles for the great days of the Easter Triduum, that is, for the harrowing experience of the suffering and crucifixion of their Master. Christ chose three disciples: Peter, James and John. He especially wanted to strengthen these three disciples because they became the pillars of the Church and supported others in their faith. Petr, Jakub, and Jan had the opportunity to convince themselves that their teacher is not only a brilliant, exceptional, and good person – the Master, but that He is a true God. This strengthening was significant because only strong faith and complete trust in Christ helped them overcome all trials, disappointments, persecutions, and problems for Christ’s Church to last until the end of the world. And it has been going on for more than 2,000 years… despite the many difficult trials we know from history and the pitfalls of today’s times… The Church lives and gives a chance for salvation to today’s people…

Today’s second Sunday in Lent, the Church also wants to take us to the Transfiguration Mountain to look at the world, at problems, at the other person differently, to look as if from above, from the point of view of God the light of Christ’s brilliance. God wants us to notice his presence in everything that happens around us. He longs for us to hear and remember forever that Christ is the beloved Son of God, whom we are to obey… “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And what does He say? From the beginning of his teaching, Jesus pleads: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” That is, transform your life, change it, and adapt it to the Gospel and not as some do who try to adapt the Gospel to their life and choose from it only what is pleasant, comfortable, and does not require anything from them… fundamental transformation, the conversion consists in by daily focusing our eyes on God – Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as Lord and living according to His teachings and commandments. Why? Because there is no other way to Heaven. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” says Jesus, “no one comes to the Father except through me.”

While reflecting on the mystery of the Transfiguration of the Lord, let us ask God to transform our lives. Let us ask for faith in Him, for trust, for the conviction that He knows best what is good for us, and for the hope we express by repeating the refrain of the psalm: in the landscape of life, I will see the goodness of God. Let us ask for the hope of reaching Heaven. Possible? Can we convert, change our lives, and go to Heaven? It is possible. Christ, who, through the Church, invites us to the Mount of Transfiguration, the Sunday Eucharist, gives us this possibility. In the Eucharist, during this Holy Mass, Jesus is present; we are all witnesses of the great mystery of the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life! Like the apostles, we, therefore, witness the Lord’s transformation. By participating in this holy sacrament, we strengthen our faith, hope, and love, transform our lives, and convert. Sunday Mass is our mountain of Transfiguration. Here, we see the body of Christ; we can touch it and take it into our hearts. Let’s take advantage of this enormous chance and opportunity, and then we can repeat with complete confidence and peace in our hearts with the author of the 116th Psalm: I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.