06-08-24 Dari Tabor ke Kalvari: Setia dalam Setiap Musim

The Transfiguration of the Lord "Mk 9:2-10" Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain...and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." On Mount Tabor, Peter, James and John saw Jesus as they had never seen Him before. They were awe-inspired by this vision and surely, if they had had an iPhone there, they would have taken several selfies to put on Insta with the title 'Awesome!' They wouldn't want to forget Jesus as radiant as He was then. So much so that Peter, filled with consolation, said, "Lord, it is well that we are here." Those same three Apostles also saw Jesus in Gethsemane, but in a very different fashion. Jesus was suffering indescribable moral pain, sweating blood as He thought about His Passion. The same Jesus, but not as they would love to remember Him. On Mount Tabor they didn't want to leave. In the Garden of Gethsemane they didn't want to stay. So when Jesus was arrested they all fled. Friends are meant to be friends always, for better or for worse. You, Lord, are also searching for friends who will stick with you through thick and thin; friends who are reliable, constant; friends who would go with You to Mount Calvary as well as to Mount Tabor; friends, Lord, that You can count on whether it's Tabor or Calvary, sunny or rainy, cold or hot, whether they are tired or energized. We all have ups and downs. We have days when we find it easy to pray and others when it is a struggle; days when everything seems tiresome, when we don't feel like praying, when we don't fancy going to Mass or saying the Rosary. Those are the moments when we prove that we are real friends of God. Holy Mary, my Mother, help me understand that "it is well" for me to be with Jesus anywhere, anytime, no matter what; help me to be constant in accompanying Him with my prayer even when it becomes harder.