Life can throw us some nasty curve balls sometimes. They usually come out of nowhere. How often do we hear of a family member or friend who becomes suddenly ill or is diagnosed with a serious disease, or one day we go to work and we are told that we are laid off due to downsizing – this after 25 years of dedicated service, or not being accepted to a university that we had set our hopes on – believing that our chances were pretty secure. The same could go for a job interview and being passed up, and finally the ultimate curve ball, losing a loved one. There are many scenarios in life that entail suffering and sometimes this life can be very hard. Jesus knows this better than anyone, for he experienced the ultimate injustice, an innocent man, a really and truly innocent man was put to death for the crimes of others.
Knowing that life could be very difficult Jesus gives us hope so that we will continue to get up over and over again. Where is this hope? Today we see it given to Peter, James, and John.
Jesus knew that his time was short and he also realized that his apostles would be severely tested once he would be arrested and crucified. It would shake them to the very core. For three years they had went around with Jesus, living with him and seeing him heal the deaf, the blind, the crippled, the possessed, and even raise people from the dead. The apostles themselves even began to worship him, “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Mt. 14:33) However, we know that the flock was scattered the night Jesus was arrested, Peter himself would deny Jesus three times and the rest hid, while only John returned. What happened to all the reassurances they received from Jesus in the past, all the miracles they witnessed and even took part in, the thousands who were converted to a life of faith? Once that nasty curve ball was thrown all else was forgotten.
When we enter into darkness ourselves we are not much different than the Apostles, we scatter and we forget, for all we see is darkness. In some ways we can’t be blamed since we are weak and our wounded nature takes over. Jesus on his part is very patient with us and also very loving, he knows that when trials come we go into fear mode; he himself experienced it when he was in the Garden praying that his own cup of suffering would pass. In that story God sends an angle to give him comfort.
Jesus gave Peter, James, and John comfort and reassurance before he was arrested in today’s celebration of the Transfiguration. He gave them a glimpse into his resurrection, his glorified nature, a piece of heaven, and ultimately showing them life after death. We can see that Peter, James and John are mesmerized. One would think that after this even the apostles would have gone to the death with Jesus. "Simon . . . I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers." He said to him, "Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you." But he replied, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day; you will deny three times that you know me." We should not be too hard on Peter here, for this is all of us. And though the apostles failed the test the night Jesus was arrested they did not fail the final exam so-to-speak, but they kept the faith as the story tells us.
We too may fail a test here and there. When difficult times come we may scatter, run away, retreat in on ourselves, question God, and despair for a while, but as we continue to journey with our Lord we notice that He provides help and reassurance, for we too receive “Transfiguration Moments.” They come to us in prayer, at mass, the support of loved ones, and most of all in our relationship with Jesus. When Peter betrayed Jesus he was despairing and his guilt was bringing him down, but he cries out and wails bitterly for what he has done, and the Lord hears his cry and heals him. Slowly Peter remembers, Jesus made the deaf hear, the blind see, the possessed given freedom, and the dead raised to life. Peter knows that in many ways he has been raised from the dead and therefore returns to Jesus. That is also you and me. When the curve ball is just upon us all seems impossible, but when we cry out to Jesus we too remember all that Peter recalled, for we have seen it as well. You may ask me, “Where have we seen it?” I will leave you with this, “look all around you, our miracles are right here, right in front of our very eyes!”
Fr John
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