At the time when Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain, He had reached a moment of crisis. Official opposition to Jesus was growing. When asked, “Who do you say I am?” Simon had answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and this profession of faith had earned him the nickname Peter, “Rock” – “on this rock I will build my Church.” But within a very short time, when faced with the prospect of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest and crucifixion, Peter was quick to dissuade Jesus from this course of action – “Lord, this must not happen to You” – which earned the name “Satan”: “Get behind me, Satan…the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.” Now, 6 days later, Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain where He was transfigured in their sight. He was teaching them to think in God’s way. They saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah, representing the teaching of the law and the prophets. They heard the voice of the Father: “This is My beloved Son…Listen to Him.” They wanted to stay there. Their minds had been opened to the reality of what it means to say “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” But very quickly the vision was over and they were left alone with Jesus to go back down the mountain and continue on their way to Jerusalem and the cross.
For the disciples, the wonder of the transfiguration soon wore off. When the crisis of Jesus’ passion and death came, they were overcome with fear. They ran away and hid. And this, surely, is the reaction of many of us after an intense experience of faith. Whether it is big occasion in our life like baptisms, First Communion, Confirmation or marriage, we are encouraged and enthusiastic as we prepare for and celebrate them. We promise ourselves that we will keep faithfully all that we have promised. Yet, so often, the enthusiasm soon wears thin and we become disillusioned. In the dark times, we are called to allow the memory of our “mountain top” experience to rekindle our fire, to enable us to renew our decision to love and to follow Jesus, no matter how hard it might be for us.