Feb.24, 2013 - MOUNT TABOR

                             Mount  Tabor

Today, February 24, 2013, the Gospel spoke on the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor. As the deacon read the account, I closed my eyes and recalled my first visit to that place where Jesus' divinity was manifested to Peter, James and John.

October 16, 1994...."Today, we shall go to Mount Tabor," Benji Shavit, our tour guide announced. I was excited! It would be my first time to set foot on the mountain where the momentous event in the life of Jesus is immortalized in the Holy Bible. From a distance, I saw Mount Tabor, majestic and serene, loom distinctly alone in the Holy Land where mountain ranges abound. I felt the bus start its ascent. It went through a maze of winding road until it reached an area where around seven or eight buses were parked.


"From this point, we shall take cars to reach the top. Don't worry, we shall use Mercedes Benz, four persons in a car," Benji said with an unmistakable glint in his eyes and a queer smirk on his face. Yep! They were Mercedes Benzes, all right, presumably Circa 1950 or 1960, all in awful need of body shop upgrading. It was worse inside! The floor was covered with scraps of linoleum and flaking shreds of wall covering swayed relentlessly. For long years of use, the seat cushion was barely three inches thick so that the iron coils disturbed (to put it mildly) our behind. Can you imagine the "suffering" we experienced as the car went through the narrow road interspersed with many elliptical curves leading to the summit? The speed with which the car ran was nothing short of fast so that kept us gasping for breath with an intoned "Hesus, Maria, Hosep" at each curve. We held on to whatever solid part of the car was available or to each other's knees or arms for support every time the car made a swing. By virtue of the "Keep Right" traffic law, our car had to be nearer the cliff which was not at all protected by any enbankment of any kind. Can you imagine the picture of four bewildered faces, open-mouthed with anticipation what the next moment would bring? So it was a deep sigh of relief that we exclaimed, "Thank God" when we finally reached the top of Mount Tabor and the Basilica of the Transfiguration.

You will recall that the Bible states that Jesus, Peter, James and John were up in the mountain after several days. Yes, after several days for they had to walk. Mount Tabor is so high, thickly covered with forests and without a well defined road then. It would have taken a few days to reach the top on foot. 

Peter experienced something there he wanted to last forever. He wanted to hold on to the moment of profound mystery. He wanted to gaze upon the radiance of Jesus transformed before him - the radiance of God! So, he said,"Lord, it is good to be here." It must have been a "mountaintop" experience for Peter!

By the way, our own transforming moments in prayer  while watching the breaking of dawn or the splendor of the sunset, or by walking by the seashore or through the woods on a crisp autumn morning are all "mountaintop" experiences whether or not we have scaled a mountain. So are the prayer moments we spend alone in our so-called "desert" be it on an easy chair in our room or backyard, park, beach or just anywhere when we simply keep still and through the sound of silence let God be God!

I looked up at the mosaic apse of the basilica depicting the scene of the Transfiguration. There were Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John. I stood motionless, speechless, enveloped with the awesome presence of God. I heard His voice speaking to me, to me directly, "Listen to Him!" I knew He was speaking in my heart! I was consumed in prayer of praise and thanksgiving - basking in God's glory!

Like Peter, I said, "Lord, it is good to be here. Thank you for bringing me here!" All at once I remembered my family, all my loved ones. I wanted them to enjoy the moment with me! I wanted them to set foot on Mount Tabor and feel God's embrace. Then the song of St. Francis reverberated in my ears..."Make me a channel of your peace...where there is hatred, let me bring love." I found a new meaning of love - by giving it away, we get joy, true joy! 

I took several deep long breaths of the most fresh air ever. I looked at the azure sky and clouds meandering by and felt the soft caress of the cool breeze. As I glanced in every direction catching glimpses of hilly slopes against the quiet waters of the Sea of Galilee, I felt His presence as never before. I "floated" in the all-embracing love of God! Again, I bowed my head in prayer, "Thank you, Lord, thank you!" I opened my eyes and savored the exquisite panorama before me. Slowly, I straightened up, pulled my shoulders back and held high my chin. I stood tall with the assurance and confidence of my own humble transfiguration, so to speak. I walked away ready to face everything, buoyed by the memory of the radiance of God!