In the Angelus speech on Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on the Transfiguration of Jesus and urges Christians to transform our prayer experience into a desire to bring hope to the world.
By Devin Watkins
Before the traditional Marian prayer of the Angelus, Pope Francis spoke about the Transfiguration, told in the Sunday Gospel (Mk 9,2-10).
He started by considering what Jesus said to His disciples before taking them to the top of the mountain. Jesus had just revealed that he would be put to death, but would be resurrected.
“The image of a strong and triumphant Messiah is put in crisis, their dreams are shattered and they are tormented by the anguish of thinking that the Master they believed in should be killed as the worst of evildoers,” said the Pope.
Broken hearts
With these concerns in their hearts, the disciples follow Jesus up the mountain, where He is transfigured before them.
Pope Francis said that Jesus thus reminded them that He would conquer death.
“His radiant face and sparkling garments, providing a preview of his image as the Risen One, offer those frightened men the light to pass through the shadows.
New point of view
The Pope began to reflect on Peter’s words: “Rabbi, it is good that we are here!”
He said the apostle’s expression of appreciation is a reminder that the Lord never allows darkness to give the final say.
In the face of seemingly endless trials, the Pope said, we need another point of view: “a light that deeply illuminates the mystery of life and helps us to go beyond our state of mind and the criteria of this world”.
We too, he stressed, are called to go up the mountain with Jesus so that every fragment of our life is illuminated by his victory at Easter.
Spiritual laziness
However, Pope Francis warned, we must not allow our joy at the Transfiguration to become “spiritual laziness”.
“We cannot stay on the mountain and enjoy the beauty of this meeting alone”, he observed. “Jesus himself brings us back to the valley, among our brothers and sisters and in daily life.”
Spiritual laziness, said the Pope, leads us to rest in satisfying our own well-being, ignoring the struggles that others face.
“Climbing the mountain does not mean forgetting reality; praying never means avoiding life’s difficulties, ”he said.
Christian mission
Pope Francis concluded his catechesis by urging Christians to transform our experience with Jesus and bring His light around the world.
Every Christian’s mission, he said, is to turn on “little lights in people’s hearts; being little lamps of the Gospel that bring a little love and hope”.
And the Pope asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to accompany us to welcome the light of Christ, to care for it and to share it with our brothers and sisters.