As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

Luke 9: 33-35

Here are the complete readings for Sunday, March 16, 2025

(“The Transfiguration” by Polly Castor)

My relationship with mystery in the modern world is fickle. Like anyone, I appreciate spontaneity and unexpected positive turns of fate. I want to believe that there is a cosmic order in the universe. But therein lies the problem. I am open to mystery but only on my terms, which means I am not open to mystery at all. As usual, fear is the culprit. Like anyone who gets cold feet about falling deeply in love with another person, I find that opening myself up to the great cloud of unknowing and what lies behind it is often too frightening to pursue. So like many people, I close myself off from the difficult questions about what makes us happy, the necessary relationship between joy and suffering, and the belief that I am good enough just as I am and as I was the day I was born. Today’s Gospel is a powerful witness to embracing the mystery of the transcendent, even if we don’t fully understand it. If we can be at peace knowing that we will never fully comprehend the Mystery of God but are welcome to communion with God in the ordinary moments of the day, then like Peter, we can express how good it is to be here.

It is this communion with the living God
which is at the heart of your life
as a child of God,
disciple of Jesus,
witness of God’s spirit,
quickened member of God’s Body,
and brother or sister to the world. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

Dear God, it is good that you are with us, right here and now. May we strive to bring joy to those in despair, shelter our brothers and sisters from the daily storms brought by the world, and be light to our neighbors who stumble in darkness, just as we hope that they will pick us up when we find ourselves lost and alone.

Amen