However, we know that the story is not finished, because a cloud overshadows the apostles, and they hear the voice of the Father, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” Then the glory, calm, and quiet, turn into fear, as the apostles fall flat on the ground. They are simply frightened. I think that we’ve also had these moments of fear in the Lord’s presence, when we too fall on the ground, acknowledge God’s eternal majesty, and maybe pray “spare us o Lord.” As the prophet Daniel spoke in the first reading, God is the Ancient One, with a throne of fire, whom untold numbers of creatures serve and worship. As St. Jerome puts it, “human frailty cannot endure to look upon so great glory, and falls to the earth trembling through both soul and body” (Catena Aurea, vol. 1, pg. 495, 2014).
The Lord Jesus comes to the apostles, touches them, asks them to not be afraid, and gets them up. God is the one in front of whom we can be peaceful and calm, God is the one in front of whom we can experience the power and the glory, and yes, God is the one in front of whom we will sometimes fall flat on our face, in fear and trembling. On the one hand we have God’s closeness and care for us, and on the other, we have His awesome and unparalleled majesty. At times, in certain moments, we too keep silence about these things, because we do not know how to put them into words, or maybe are afraid to talk about them.
The important lesson for us here, is that we should not stay with our faces to the ground. Christ desires to touch us, to help us arise. Christ does not want to take away from us a healthy fear of God – to fear God is to be in reverent awe of His holiness and power. What Christ does want to take away is our fright of God, the fright that keeps us from approaching God with faith and confidence.
This week we had some noteworthy funerals. The funeral of Fr. Grant Neville, a well-known and well-loved priest of this diocese, was held at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Pembroke. Here at St. Hedwig’s, we had the funeral of Joseph and Lorraine Luckasavitch, husband and wife, who died within a couple of days of each other. However long, or however short our time on this earth will be, it is important for us to keep our ultimate goal and destination in mind: a place, where, in the words of St. Anastasius of Sinai, “all things shine with a divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity, and stillness; where God is seen” (Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings for the Feast of the Transfiguration, vol. IV, pg. 1285). After the pilgrimage of this life, a place is being prepared for us, a place where we too will say “it is good for us to be here,” a place where we can stay forever. This is a place in God’s Kingdom, in heaven. Let us fight the battle of earthly life and keep the faith, so as to prepare ourselves to enter into that place of goodness, peace and endless happiness.
On a road that is long and varied we need the help of a friend or a guide. Here, I think that the Blessed Virgin Mary has a great role to play. She too can help us to get rid of an unhealthy fright in front of God, and assist us as we keep our eyes on the ultimate destination. I would like to finish with a prayer by St. John Paul II, which he prayed on the Feast of the Transfiguration: "Let us ask God, through the intercession of Mary, Teacher of faith and contemplation, to enable us to receive within us the light that shines brightly on the face of Christ, so that we may reflect its image on everyone we meet” (St. John Paul II, Remarks on the Transfiguration, 6 August 2000).
(Fr. Paweł Ratajczak, OMI, Aug. 6, 2023)