Let His Light Show
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
What a wonderful quote for a spectacular feast day. Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It commemorates the time when Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John up a mountain and, there, was transfigured before their eyes. For a brief moment, they saw Jesus in all of His glory as God. In the splendor of that moment, they also saw Moses and Elijah conversing with Jesus.
The experience was at once both extraordinarily spectacular as well as extremely frightening. After all, you do not just see God and live. Yet, there they were. While it may have been scary, it was so wondrous that they wanted to preserve it. They asked Jesus if they could make three tents — one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah — so that they could remain there. After saying that, they heard the voice of God thunder from the clouds: “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”
They fell to the ground in fear and, when they looked up once again, Moses and Elijah were gone and Jesus was back to His usual appearance. Things may have looked “normal”; but, for Peter, James, and John, things would never be normal again because they would always remember the glory that was contained within the Lord. I am sure that memory would help get them through awful times in their lives as they proclaimed the Good News. I am also sure that it helped them to be able to recognize what they held within.
God does not dwell outside of us. God dwells within His people. His glory resides in our frail bodies and He asks us to let His glory shine forth for others to see. When we give to the poor, visit the sick, or care for the needy, we let them see God. When we pray for the dead, comfort the afflicted, or forgive those who have hurt us, we let them see God. It is in those moments that we allow the veneer of our humanity to be peeled aside so that others can see the One who motivates us to do what we do and say what we say.
The Light of Christ is within us because God dwells therein. We do not put a bushel basket over that glory. We let it shine forth so that the world can see it and gain hope.
FAITH ACTION: Let the light of Christ, which is within you, be revealed to others this day.