At the mountaintop
The story is told by Fr. Rod Salazar, SVD, about a husband who made a toast to his wife on their 50th wedding anniversary: “Cheers to my wife whose love for me has been tried and true!” To which the wife, who was a little hard of hearing, responded: “Yes, I’m tired of you, too!”
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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 17, 1-9), Jesus brought His disciples Peter, James and John to a high mountain and let them experience His Transfiguration. The disciples were tired, and needed assurance from their Master. The religious experience at the mountaintop recharged them and made them more clear of and confident in their identity and mission.
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We all need to leave our comfort zones and allow the Lord to lead us to a mountain where He will reveal Himself to us again. Trials, sicknesses, disappointments, humiliations, deprivations, and even persecutions, lead us closer to God’s heart. Climbing a mountain is never easy, but it will lead to a clearer vision, closer devotion, and deeper commitment and mission.
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We cannot be with the crowd all the time. The Lord will lead us to ways unknown from time to time, to set us aside, and lead us closer to His heart. At such moments, what is needed is obedience and trust. When God calls, we must respond. Oftentimes, we don’t respond because we are afraid, or we simply don’t understand. Our greatest assurance is God’s word: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46,10) At such moments, we must believe that it is God who is calling, that He has a plan, that He is in command, and that His love is our only assurance.
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When we undergo our personal transfiguration moments, please remember that it is not so much about our faces shining like the sun or our clothes becoming white as light that matters, as that of becoming more a beloved son or daughter in whom the Father is well pleased. In other words, conversion is not for our personal glory or satisfaction, but for God’s glory and our sanctification.
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It was a transfiguration moment to go back to the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City for the 50th anniversary and grand alumni homecoming last March 11-12. It was good to meet again old and not so old acquaintances, classmates, professors, teachers, and workers, and to just be together again in that place we called home for so many years during our formation. Fr. Rector Fred Saniel, SVD, said it so well when he said: “Welcome home! Welcome to the womb of our alma mater.”
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A homecoming is simply that—coming home to a place we have loved and known, to people we have lived with and grown with. Above all, it is a coming home to God’s heart, where we experience a joyful, unconditional welcome and love. Coming home is such a refreshing experience that strengthens us before we hit the road again. We don’t stay on the mountaintop forever. Yes, we rest awhile, but sooner or later we have to move on, and mission on.
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At the mountaintop, we prayed, we listened, and we visioned with one another. It was a time for renewal for the alumni, priests, religious and ex-seminarians, faculty and students. Our former superior general, Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD, talked about “The State of Mission Today,” pointing out the paradigm shift that mission is no longer centered on the Church but on the Kingdom of God, and that mission is not so much conquest as dialogue. He proposed the following conversions in doing mission: from activism to contemplation, from individualism to
collaboration, from superiority to humility.
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CNN senior correspondent John Allen Jr. gave us interesting insights and information about the Vatican, particularly about Pope Francis who is known for his humility and simplicity and his message of mercy. Allen said Filipinos in the diaspora have become the “infrastructure of the future Church.” Yes, we as a people have an important role and mission. He also called Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, a former professor at Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay, the “Francis of Asia,” to the great delight of the audience.
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Among the alumni who joined the celebration was Archbishop of Taipei John Hung, SVD, a number of other bishops, and about 400 priests and religious. Former Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio was given the Outstanding Alumnus Award for Public Service. Also given recognition was Cory Belardo for her 39 years of dedicated service. But beyond the awards and recognition, it was an experience of a grateful community praising God for bestowing upon us “grace upon grace” (Jn. 1,16).
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The ex-seminarians did wonderful work in making the alumni homecoming successful and meaningful. Dante Magdangal and Manny Mendoza motivated their group to help raise funds for their alma mater, particularly through the “Dinner for the Missions” held last March 13. It was a shining moment of Church and laity cooperation and collaboration.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, thank you for being always with us, be it on mountains high or in valleys deep as we journey through life. Amen.
