Feast of Transfiguration:

THE FEAST OF HOPE

BACKGROUND.

The precise identification of this important event must remain a mystery. However, since the middles of the 4th century Christians have traditionally identified this important event with Mount Tabor for the following reasons:

• its well-rounded appearance gives it a natural aura of distinction, making it easy to identify with a sacred mountain.
• unlike many mountains, it has an accessible peak on which it is easy to imagine a mysterious event such the Transfiguration taking place.
• visitors need and demand for a precise site for the Transfiguration.
• It is conveniently located en route to Nazareth and Lake Galilee.

From 348AD Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem asserted in his Catechetical Lectures (12:16) that the Transfiguration took place on Mount Tabor.

Some more recent scholars believe that the Transfiguration is more likely to have occurred on the lower slopes of Mount Hermon 80 km to the north of Lake Galilee, or in the adjacent hills of Gaulantis. This view is based on the fact that all the biblical text requires is a remote hillside at some altitude.  There are many such sites in the foothills of Mount Hermon. They also believe that the Gospel reader is led naturally to this area through noting how the event comes a few days after Peter's confession in the area around Caesarea Phillippi.  It is most unlikely that Jesus would have travelled to the diametrically opposite area beyond the lake in such a short space of time.  This preference for Mount Hermon was sensed before the time of Cyril.

Of all the events in the gospel accounts, the Transfiguration is itself perhaps the best one to endorse this approach of the tension that can exist between historical enquiry and the spiritual needs of visitors to identify an accessible and appropriate site.  It counters Peter's instinct to try to capture the even with physical markings ( the building of the tents for Jesus, Elijah and Moses). It also forces the disciples to pay greater attention not to physical places to but God's word-"Listen to Him".

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US. 

This upward focus must never become merely spiritual, forgetting that, according to the Gospels, this and other events occurred in real historical time and place.  In this sense the Christian faith is neither mere history, nor mere spirituality, but a delicate combination of the two.  The Transfiguration is an event rooted in the historical episode of Christ's incarnation, yet it points to the eternal real of Christ's exaltation.

PERSONAL NOTE.

On a personal note, in 2000 I went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  I will never forget the experience of going up and down Mount Tabor in the taxi- the winding road and what seemed the nearness to the edge. I wondered whether I would get up or down alive. However, once up Mount Tabor it was

'indeed, good to be here'.

The feast of the Transfiguration gives us hope for our Transfiguration journey- we are constantly being transformed each day (or not) by the decisions and choices we make for our faith and for Christ.  We must desire to follow and Christ  and 'Listen to Him'.  Whether it be on the mountain tops of our homes, workplace or parish, we have the opportunity to follow Jesus by the lives we lead and be transformed.  We all have our moments of deep spiritual experience with Jesus and then we, like the disciples have to come down the mountain.  However this great feast gives us the opportunity to long for God.

Let us live in great hope that we too will one day see Christ face to face.