The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated on August 6. The feast commemorates the transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor, when our Lord appeared in His divine glory before the Apostles Peter, James, and John. We also proclaim the Transfiguration on the Second Sunday of Lent to give us encouragement as we enter the forty days of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter.
The following homily was prepared and delivered by Father Rodney Kissinger, S.J. Father Kissinger relates the mountain-top experience of the Apostles to our participation at Holy Mass. Like the Transfiguration helped the Apostles embrace their future trials, our participation at Holy Mass assists us face our daily crosses.
The Transfiguration was the mountain-top experience of the apostles which prepared them for their future trails. The Mass is our mountain-top experience which prepares us for the trials of our day. The Mass is not a transfiguration but a transubstantiation, in which bread and wine are transformed into the glorious Risen Jesus. And in the joy and consolation of Communion we say with Peter, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here.’ And we do not want to leave. But it is not to be. Soon we will hear the words, ‘The Mass is ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.’ So we pick up our cross and leave to face the trials of the day. But having been to the top of the mountain we know that ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.'”