Jesus takes the disciples up to the mountain top in today’s Gospel. In
that space, they have a profound experience and are invited to see Jesus for
who He really is. One can empathise with the disciples in this story as they do
not want to leave that space. We all have had experiences that we want to last
forever and are hugely disappointed when they are over. However, commitment to
any cause very often involves a long and painful journey. Like the disciples in
the Gospel today, there is a ‘hook’ moment, when Jesus or any leader shows us
something different, a vision, a dream, something that is so wonderful and
hope-filled that we commit there and then to making it happen. Then we realise
that there is much work to be done and the path will not be so easy. Obstacles
will arise, people will fall away, enthusiasm will waver, there will be set
backs and disappointments. We are being called to commitment today, to the more
difficult path. We are being called to open our ears and eyes to the Gospel
message of transfiguration, of transformation.
Per capita, Ireland is one of the highest polluters in
Europe. This is not a statistic to be proud of. We know we can do better.
Coming down from the mountain, like the disciples, means making changes in our
lifestyles that lower each of our carbon footprints. We start with ourselves.
“We require a new and universal solidarity… All of us can cooperate as
instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own
cultures, experience, involvements and talents.’ (Pope
Francis, Laudato Si’,
14)
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