This weekend brings us up a mountain for the Transfiguration. I clearly remember that trip up to the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount
Tabor in Israel. I am sure you do too if you have been there. There are about 14 switchbacks as you drive up Mount Tabor to the Church at the
top. The drive is not very long, but you go up in elevation VERY quickly. And with the switchbacks at times, it looks like you are about to
drive right over the edge. I was going to make a video on the way down. As I started the video, I saw something that made me a little nervous.
I saw in the mirror, as our driver was about to drive us down, he paused and made the sign of the cross. OK, that made me a little more nerv-
ous, this guy drives this all the time.

The view from the Church of the Transfiguration was amazing, one of the highest points around. Transfiguration is a onetime event that hap-
pened, not to everyone, but a chosen few. “Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.” There is
something about these three that get to experience Christ’s Transfiguration. (Note: this may be in the homily). There is no reason why Jesus
could not have brought the rest of the 12 or even more. He does not, just the 3. He even tells them after that they should not say anything until
“the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” This Gospel makes it clear that they do not understand yet what that means.

This often reminds me that we all do not get the same experience. I know when I was in seminary, I found myself getting jealous when I heard
seminarians tell their story of their call. “I was sitting in adoration, and I just felt this overwhelming feeling that the Lord was calling me to be a
priest.” Or even “I saw this vision…” I never had one of those mountaintop experiences. I had a different experience. I went through the pro-
cess of applying to seminary, getting started and 8 evaluations (one each year). As the struggles and obstacles (as I saw them) were removed
one by one, this was my affirmation that I was doing the right thing. I have gotten feedback over the years from others who agree. Some have a
mountain top experience; others just have experiences.

The fact that it is Moses and Elijah that show up also has some great significance. Moses was the one who received the ‘Law’ or the 10 Com-
mandments. Elijah represented the prophets. In Mark’s Gospel we are just told they were speaking together. Luke in his Gospel states, “They
spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem”. They were speaking about Jesus upcoming passion and
death. It would be interesting to hear that conversation.

Peter’s reaction is priceless, “Let us make three tents.” Anyone think Moses and Elijah need a tent? In my reflection, it is Peter’s way of saying,
“I want this to continue.” Have you ever had one of those moments in your life that was truly amazing, and you would have done anything to
get it to continue? I can think of a few in my life. There was just so much Joy and Happiness, you just don’t want to think of it coming to an
end, but most times it does. I don’t think any of us have been asked not to share that joy or memory like the three were asked to do.

There is another thing that comes to mind with the Transfiguration. When we have a deeply spiritual time in our life, for me a retreat on the
side of a mountain in Montana, we often call those times ‘mountain top experiences’. I believe it is because we feel that closeness to the Lord
and feel he has revealed himself to us in a special way. I am sure that, like Peter and I, you wanted that time to continue. I did something fool-
ish, the next year I went back to my friend’s cabin on that mountain in Montana. It was not the same retreat. We can’t recreate something
that the Lord created for us. I was able to go back to the same location and it was still as beautiful as ever, but the moment was not the same. I
treasure the memories of that first retreat, I sometimes regret trying to duplicate it the next year. That first year I was reading a book called
‘Retreat for priests’ and it was talking about taking the time to go up on the mountain with the Lord. Being on a mountain at the time made it
even more real. However, the last chapter of the book talked about how we can’t stay on the mountain. We must go back down and be with
our people again, go back to our ministry. I have had other retreats; they all remind me of the memories of that cabin and how close I felt to the
Lord at that time. I pray all of you have a memory of your mountain top experience, even if it does not have 14 switchbacks and makes your
stomach feel weak.

Blessings,
Fr. Backer