The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

Today we celebrate the Transfiguration.  Growing up, all that this meant to me was that a parish in North County that had a really good soccer tournament every year.  I’m pretty sure all of my brothers played in it at one time ore another but I do remember the year I got to play in it; I don’t remember who it was we played, but I remember vividly one of the parents bringing a cooler full of Shasta’s to share with the team after the game.  Shasta – a real soda – steel can with no pull tab – had to have the “church key” to open them.  (How about another DQ challenge – who, under the age of 40, can tell me what a “church key” is?  (I still owe CKrull a hot fudge sundae, so I didn’t want to go further into debt with him.))

Anywho, my knowledge of the Transfiguration has gone a bit deeper than a soccer tournament in North County.  It is so much more than that.  Take some time to read the passage from 2Peter this morning – our second reading at Mass.  Imagine yourself on that mountain top and as an orthodox Jew, seeing the Law (Moses) and the prophet(s) (Elijah) standing right in front of you conversing with Jesus.  As Fr. Siefert often refers to, my Prep North mind wanders in directions it probably shouldn’t go.  I can hear Moses and Elijah instructing Jesus about what they would have or wouldn’t have done about a variety of matters concerning Jesus’ mission and upon hearing His Son being challenged, God speaks up and says – “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  I can only imagine that feeling of “I can’t believe what is happening before my very eyes” that the three apostles experienced.  How did Peter react to all of this?  “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  But he did not know what he was saying.  My reaction would have been more like Flounders from Animal House “This is gonna be great!”.

What does the Transfiguration mean to you?  Tradition has taught me what it meant to the three apostles – Peter, John and James.  To them it was the fulfillment of the Old Testament, dare I say the handing over the old guard to the new, God passing on the Law and the Prophets from Moses and Elijah to His beloved son Jesus.  Take a few minutes out of your day today to think about this.  What does the Transfiguration mean to you?

Do something great for our Lord today – proclaim that The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.