To and From the Mountain Top

Some years ago I went through a time of great questioning and for a while could not clearly see the way forward. One of my brothers said to me: “Come to Africa and climb Mt Kilimanjaro.” I think my reply was sarcastic and cutting. Climbing a mountain in Africa was the last thing I needed. As things turned out, I went. My luggage got lost and I turned up to climb this 20 000 feet high mountain with a shirt and pants, boots and a jumper.  The first thing was that others in the group started to share with me, a shirt here, a thermal there, socks from somewhere else, the mere act of sharing with me seemed to bring our group together. Then we walked, and walked, for three days, interminably up. As the atmosphere thinned, we had to walk more slowly, the country opened up and we could experience the grandeur of the roof of Africa. Reaching the summit was one of the hardest things I have done. I got to the top, looked over Africa, and realised that without the others in the group I would not have made it. I also realised that all that all the problem that I had left 5893m below were not the insurmountable. The clear air of Africa cleared my head. God spoke to me through that experience and I sailed down the mountain. It was my experience of Transfiguration.

We know who Jesus is. We don’t need God on the mountain and in the cloud to tell us that. We know that the apostles came down from the mountain with a new awareness of who Jesus was and what their role was in relation to him. They emerged with new direction.  This is the part of their experience that we need to discover.  We have all had our moments of transfiguration, those times when God has become blindingly obvious to us and the way ahead is very clear. These are wonderful moments, just like mine on Kilimanjaro. They are to be savoured form what they are, moments of grace, gifts from God which reassure us of our faith and give us enthusiasm for the road ahead.  Abraham was given a moment of grace as he ascended Mount Horeb, the mountain of the Lord. He was able to see that the Lord did not want him to offer his only son as a sacrifice, but wanted his obedience.

We all have to come down from the mountaintop and face life after the high. We must move on, and even Peter knew that when he timidly asked that he pitch three tents for Jesus Moses and Elijah: he knew it was a long-shot. Moments like these give us strength and guidance.

Let us ask God to give us direction and strength in our Lenten journey.

Homily for Second Sunday of Lent Year B, 4th March 2012, OLQP.