Have you ever climbed a mountain? The higher you climb the greater distance you can see. But this is true only when our eyes are good, open and we have sufficient light. This is similarly true when we climb the mountain of God’s holiness. We can see Jesus and choose to follow him when we have the light of faith, grace and grow in virtue, even though we may be distracted by the evil in the world. Xi Jinping and China’s communist regime have destroyed hundreds of Catholic churches, schools, and have en-slaved Muslim Uyghars (Wee-gars). They discriminate against those who do not agree with their form of communism wherein God is shackled by their government, and the people oppressed. Only when communists acknowledge God as the source, sustainer and goal of every human life will they begin to see Jesus Christ as the light of the fullness of faith and life. If they believe in today’s Gospel, they will see that Jesus chose from among his Twelve Apostles three of his closest: Peter, James and John to climb Mount Tabor with him. This was not to dis-criminate unjustly against the other apostles, but rather to accomplish God’s plan of our salvation, the salvation that comes by listening to God’s only Son, who is Truth, through the Church as God has designed it with St. Peter and the other apostles being succeeded by the Pope and the Bishops of today. Shortly before this event on Mount Tabor, Jesus had given authority and power to the Twelve to cast out demons, cure the sick, and to proclaim the Kingdom of God. (Lk. 9:1-5) He sent them forth to form the Church and continue the minis-try of the Gospel in Jesus’ holy name. Saul persecuted this Church, was then blinded, but then saw the light and was converted to Christ’s Church and became St. Paul, who we hear in today’s second reading that God rewards the virtuous and punishes the unrepentant sinner. Yet, God punishes in a merciful way and only out of love to have the sinner turn to God, before it is too late. For this reason, Jesus said to all his disciples: If you wish to be my disciple and follow me, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily. For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, but whoever wishes to lose their life for my sake will save it. (Lk. 9:23-26) The light that converted St. Paul, is the same light that the Saints Peter, John and James experienced on Mount Tabor, which woke them up from their exhaustion. The light of God’s glory was reflecting from Jesus, emanating from him. This theophany, this revelation of God’s divinity in Christ, showed them that he was truly the Son of God who was accomplishing God’s holy will. This included going to Jerusalem to speak the truth to the Jewish leaders and therefore be mocked and crucified by them and the people he was calling to conversion, that they too would repent and climb the mountain of holiness. What increases our hope is that the three Apostles also see Moses and Elijah while Jesus is transfigured, and they rep-resent the Law and the Prophets. For Moses received God’s Ten Commandments after climbing Mount Sinai. These command-ments are a sign of God’s loving covenant between himself and the people he rescued from Egyptian slavery through his chosen leader Moses. The fifth Commandment, “Thou shall not kill innocent life” reached the ears of the people and leaders of Jesus’ time, and many ignored it. These words of common sense have reached the ears of Xi Jinping and people today, but God’s Commandments of life and love are not received in the hearts of many people. Many people choose to ignore God’s Ten Commandments which creates a virtual hell on earth as we see the destruction of human lives and human rights in China, and other places that reject God and his ways of holiness.
Throughout history certain people and leaders begin to break God’s Ten Commandments and thus become ensnared in the consequences of their sins and thus bring natural and moral tragedies upon themselves and those around them. Yet, God compassionately sends his prophets to help the people get back to the fundamentals of true life, true love and holiness. That is why the prophet Elijah also appeared while Jesus was transfigured, for he represents God’s true prophets. While on earth Elijah climbed Mount Carmel to challenge and defeat the false prophets of Baal who the people of God began to follow blindly. We are called to be God’s chosen people by climbing the mountain of holiness to reflect God’s love and truth to all people. Jesus Christ inspired his Catholic Church to reflect on the Trans-figuration during this Season of Lent so that we would never lose hope that Jesus is God, and that his Church still produces saintly people like Saints Peter, John and James. Again, in St. Paul’s letter, we read: “Join with others in being imitators of me and observe those who conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you… conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction… Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.” (Phil. 3:17-4:1) We are called to follow Jesus Christ who is modeled by the holy apostles and saints like St. Paul, an apostle who was not part of the original Twelve but followed Christ in building up the Church by his evangelization, prayer, fasting, true worship, and helping the poor. The greatest saint, of course, was not an apostle, pope or bishop, rather, the greatest saint is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary appeared in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917 and called all people to repent and truly follow Jesus Christ. Under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, she asked the faithful to follow the First Saturday devotions which consists of going to confession on the first Saturday of each month for at least five consecutive months, as well as pray the rosary that day in reparation to her Immaculate heart, and to receive holy communion in the state of grace. She knew that this would help all of us climb the mountain of holiness, as well as mitigate the punishment due to the world’s sins, while we enter the valley of work to proclaim Christ’s Gospel and defend every innocent life. Please consider practicing the First Saturday devotions with adoration, confession and Holy Mass at St. Columbkill, April 5, 8:00 AM. Archbishop Hebda spoke at our deanery meeting of priests about making sure that every Catholic had a reasonable opportunity to complete the First Saturday devotions during these times of uncertainty. For one thing is certain: Jesus Christ, his Mother Mary, and all his Saints will help us be transfigured by God’s grace at the summit of our faith, and then together we will be able to transform the world.
Peace in Christ through Saints Mary and Joseph, Fr. Thomas McCabe
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