Pope Francis: the Transfiguration, a concrete sign of God’s love

Benedetta Capelli – Vatican City

“An anticipated Easter apparition”, but also “a gift of infinite love from Jesus” which shows the glory of the Resurrection, “a glimpse of paradise on Earth”. In his magisterium, Pope Francis dwelled many times on the meaning of the Transfiguration, a feast that falls on August 6, because according to tradition it took place 40 days before the crucifixion, 40 days before the feast of the ‘Exaltation of the Cross, September 14.

Flashes of light

Going up the mountain with Peter, James and John, Jesus showed his glory, transfiguring himself and shining with light, to then enter into dialogue with Moses and Elijah. A light which is “the light of hope, the light to cross the darkness”. Pope Francis, in the Angelus of February 28, 2021, explains that darkness does not have the last word, that in the face of the “great enigmas” of life, we are called to stop and turn our gaze to Christ :

“We therefore need another look, a light that illuminates in depth the mystery of life and helps us to go beyond our own patterns and the criteria of this world. We too are called to climb the mountain, to contemplate the beauty of the Risen One who illuminates every fragment of our life and helps us to interpret history starting from the paschal victory ”.

Prayer to seek God

“The Lord – affirms the Pope in the Angelus of March 17, 2019 – shows us the end of this path that is the Resurrection, beauty, carrying his own cross, invites us in the Transfiguration to follow the path of the disciples, the “perspective of Christian suffering” which is not “sadomasochism” is a “not necessary but transitory” towards the light.

“Let us go up the mountain in prayer; silent prayer, prayer of the heart, prayer … Always in search of the Lord. Let us spend a few moments in meditation, every day for a certain time, let us fix our inner gaze on his face and let his light permeate us and shine us in our lives ”.

The Christian’s Mission

It is on returning from the mountain, full of the light received, that the mission of the believer is accomplished. Indeed, it is in the luminous face of those who pray, in the flame which is kindled in their hearts, that it can shine in the lives of others, witnessing to the truth and to the faith.

“Light little lights in people’s hearts; to be little lamps of the Gospel which carry a little love and hope: such is the mission of the Christian ”.

“Transformed by the presence of Christ and the ardor of his word, we will be – underlined the Pope in the Angelus of August 6, 2017 – a concrete sign of the life-giving love of God for all our brothers and sisters, in particular for those who suffer, for those who are in solitude and abandonment, by the sick and by the multitude of men and women who in different parts of the world are humiliated by injustice, arrogance and violence ” .