(Gn 15:5-12,17-18; Ps 27:1,7-9,13-14; Phil 3:17–4:1; Lk 9:28-36)
Light permeates both the old testament reading and the gospel, in the scriptures for mass this Sunday. First God took Abram outside at night, to see how many stars lit up the night sky. God told Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars that filled the dark sky above him. We can all relate to the experience of gazing upon the vastness of space, the milky way, and the constellations we find hidden there. Every child has been shown the big dipper and the little dipper, and had falling stars pointed out to them by their parents.
A full moon and the clear, white, sparkling stars never cease to amaze people throughout the generations. Many families sit outside at night in the summer, or lay on a picnic blanket and gaze at the stars with their children and can not help but feel closer to our creator, and to each other, in those moments. After a while, it’s time to go inside and you may go indoors with a glow in your heart, ending a beautiful evening filled with light and love. For a brief moment you may have felt a deeper connection to our heavenly Father and your love for your family as well. Families often do not talk much after this experience, but quietly put the children to bed, or maybe put out the camp fire or fireplace and go to bed themselves, drifting off to sleep at peace with the world. This is the way that God loves us, with great tenderness.
The smoking fire pot and flaming torch that Abram saw, passing through the animal sacrifice in his trance, was the sheer power of God, showing him and his people where their new home would be. Moses also saw God in the flames of a burning bush, and his people was led through the parting of the red sea, to their new home as well. When Moses came down from the mountain his face and appearance was transformed from gazing upon God in the burning bush.
In the gospel, the disciples were sleeping outdoors and woke up to see the face of Jesus transformed while he was praying. Even the clothing he wore had turned a dazzling white. He spoke with Moses and Elijah, surrounded in light. It must have frightened and amazed the disciples to witness this supernatural event. They didn’t know how to act. They were shown the glory of the son of God and the prophets of the old testament, and heard the voice of God himself, declare Jesus his son. They were silent and did not tell anyone what they had seen, probably because no one would have believed it and they needed time to absorb everything they had heard and seen as well.
We too, need to seek out quiet moments to experience the love of our creator and to reconnect with those we love. To watch a sunset on the beach, or sit around the fireplace or a campfire, which always seems to bring out deep thoughts in people late at night.
