"Why is it so hard to wear a mask that protects others, and even harder to take off the masks we wear to protect our truest selves?"
Feast of the Transfiguration
August 6th, 2020
Today is the feast of the Transfiguration, and it’s one of my favorite moments of theology in scripture. It’s not necessarily my favorite story, or my favorite text but it’s actually one of my favorite moments of deep theological reflection.
I say this because we often find ourselves confused about what the transfiguration might be and why it was important to have it included in the gospel story. The second part of this is what interests me most. Why are we supposed to know about the transfiguration?
If we approach the gospels as something that should shape our lives and call us to follow Jesus I have often been fascinated with the idea of what it would mean to follow him through, or into transfiguration. What it would mean to reveal to the world who we truly are, even if it were just to a few trusted friends at first.
This seems particularly timely to me. At this time of year so many of our college students are getting ready to go away for the first time. And while setting up in a new space often feels like a fresh start it’s also a time when we are tempted to be someone other than we truly are just to fit in. Surrounded by new friends and circumstances, the chance to shed our old images is too often a temptation to shed our history and our journey that has brought us this far.
I have been thinking of some of our musicians who are leaving this month to go to college. A few weeks ago our online mass prelude was played by Kobby Adu on the trumpet. This was a revelation to me! I had heard him so often playing drums for us and had no idea of his trumpet skills! What I particularly loved about this was that he hadn’t “held back” playing trumpet out of shyness or nerves. He simply liked playing drums more. Once there was no “group to accompany” (thanks to COVID), he hauled out the trumpet and continued to share himself with our community. Now he’s heading off to Cornell University to major in biomedical engineering.
Elissa Volling has been playing viola for us for years along with her father, (drums) and sister, (flute). She has always been comfortable in her own skin as she started playing at such a young age, holding her own against a group of, shall we say, “colorful personalities” (also known as our music ministry). A few years ago she played a Rhapsody from Suite Hébraïque by Ernest Bloch, accompanied by Alix Corboy. Again, I remember thinking how easily she shared part of herself with the larger community. I chose to use that recording from that concert as the underscore for the beginning and ending of the video reflection today. She will be leaving soon for Rice University in Texas to major in viola performance.
Many of you recognize Gaia Williams from her solo work as a vocalist over the past few years. The song I chose today is actually for her voice. It reflects a message that I truly believe she has taught our music community over the years, and a seed that will continue to guide and keep her on her journey in the years ahead. She is preparing to go to UNC in the days ahead. Because of the current state of “social distancing” I was unable to get together with her long enough to record. But I’m reconstructing an accompaniment track in her key that I can send her so that when she has time she might be able to record this song. Her voice will be much better than mine on this piece. It really is written for her sound. I really hope to hear it sometime in the month ahead. For now I just threw off a quick recording from my own living room with my somewhat more “bombastic” sound. It’s a little heavy for the piece, but I wanted to have it as part of this week’s Touchstone.
I hope that all of our many MPB students leaving home this season will take with them the courage to continue showing the world who they truly are. Those of us who have gotten even small glimpses over the years know how blessed the world will be to know them.
~Fr. Pat
Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel | Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes,
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
"Child of Belonging" by Fr. Patrick Dolan
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