Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

The Change on the Mountain

For centuries, artists in the Eastern Christian world painted pictures of Christ, Mary, the apostles, saints, and events in the Bible. They were called “icons” and are meant to instill and deepen people’s faith.

One very popular icon was the one of the “metamorphosis” of Christ (which we call his “Transfiguration”.) A version of this event is read on the second Sunday of Lent every year, and commemorates the time when Peter, James, and John saw Jesus changed in their presence. His face and clothing became dazzlingly bright, with God telling them Jesus was his Son and they should listen to Him. They had come to know Jesus as a man, but that day they got a glimpse of his divinity and were overwhelmed.

We may think this event was a once-only occurrence, but have we never had a glimpse of the goodness, love, power and beauty of Christ, perhaps in times when we have needed it most?

The days of Lent, we may want to pray that the experience of Peter, James and John could be ours, that we may truly experience Jesus in a whole new way, and listen to what he has to say to us.