The Light of His Face

A Reading for the Holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus took Peter, James, and John 
  and led them up a high mountain apart by
  themselves.
  And he was transfigured before them, 
  and his clothes became dazzling white, 
  such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
  Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, 
  and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents: 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; 
from the cloud came a voice, 
“This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves, 
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

All I could see was the stars, and all I could really hear were the waves gently caressing the rocks along the shoreline. Waiting for Confession to start at a nearby Church, the roof of my car began to feel like my judgement seat, and the God who created those waves and stars was the Just Judge. Surely He could’ve struck me down then and there, and I had only myself to blame. That’s how I felt, anyway. 

I think back to that night as I meditate on the mystery of the Transfiguration of my Lord, as I cried out alone on the beach back home asking God be with me, to be a friend to me. In my darkness I sought out His light, which the three principal Apostles saw here as resplendent as day on Mount Tabor. 

These were sinful men, sinful like me, and yet Jesus wanted them present when His glory burst forth like the dawn. He wanted us there too, which is why we are called to enter into this mystery in such a profound way in the context of the Mass. We hear the words from the Father, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7), and are reminded that it is good that we are here. This is the God that dispels the darkness within us by the brilliant light of His Face, put on full display here in this mystery. But it’s even more brilliant than that: just allowing Peter, James, John, you and I to bear witness to His glory is not enough for Jesus. He desires that we enter into that same glory, that we share in His Divine Life. He invited me into this mystery sitting on the hood of my car, my soul awash in sin, and He invites you now as well. 

This week, I encourage you to sit with this reading from the Gospel of Mark and allow yourself time to enter into the mystery of Christ’s Divine Life. Pray for the Lord to illuminate the darkness of your heart and for it to be transfigured by the light of His face. 
 

About the Author: Vibrant, highly personable, and whole-heartedly in love with Christ and His bride the Church, Avera Maria Santo is a Catholic speaker and writer who is making a major impact on the Church today. Known for her joyful spirit and heartwarming smile, at only 23-years-old Avera speaks openly, honestly, and inspirationally on the Church’s teachings on homosexuality, from the perspective of a young woman who actually experiences homosexual attractions. She has written articles featured by The National Catholic Register, has been featured on EWTN’s Life on the Rock , has had her written work used to defend Church teaching at the 2018 Synod on the Youth, and has traveled the country speaking at major conferences and events, parish missions, and youth groups giving her testimony and unique defense of the Church’s teachings. Avera currently resides in Baton Rouge and is pursuing a degree in theology at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU). 

The Well is a weekly reflection series from Red Stick Catholics that was created to allow young adults from the Diocese of Baton Rouge to reveal how God is speaking to them through prayer and Scripture. Each reflection contains the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel, a reflection written by a young adult from the Diocese of Baton Rouge and prompts for how to pray with the Gospel and reflection during the week. If you are interested in writing a reflection, please email Nicole at [email protected] .