This coming Sunday is the Festival of the Transfiguration in my faith tradition. It's this time that we remember that Jesus went up on a mountain and was changed in appearance before the eyes of some of his disciples. We celebrate that this happened just in time for them to walk back down the mountain and into the rancor of Jerusalem.

But, what is this "transfiguration"? We certainly don't use the word in normal conversation. Instead we often use the word "transformation" instead. Which got me thinking: what is the difference.

I found a website through trusty Google that said this: "To be transformed means to become thoroughly or dramatically different. It's still a neutral term: transformation may be thorough, but it's not necessarily better. But to be transfigured means to be elevated, to become thoroughly or dramatically more beautiful."*

To become thoroughly or dramatically more beautiful.

I have always marveled at this festival. You see, right after this mountaintop experience Jesus and his disciples enter into Jerusalem and the "fun" begins. There are incidents and accidents, hints and allegations** -- and it all ends up in a trial, a cross, and a tomb. But that isn't the end of the story. No, God had this amazing ending planned -- and thoroughly and dramatically beautiful end.

And so, on that mountaintop, God gives a gift to the disciples. Something that they can look back on in the roughest of times; something that, I imagine, got them through to the transfigured end of the story.

And now, the Church has seen fit to put this festival right before Lent to remind us that there is something greater coming. That the season of Lent which draws us back to remembering that we are mortal, has this precursor that reminds us that we are called toward something that is thoroughly and dramatically beautiful: life in Christ.

Peace this week,

Bishop Barbins

*The Paulist Fathers, paulists.org

**Thank you Paul Simon for these lyrics ("You Can Call Me Al")