Seek Your Cross

The people of Israel awaits the coming of the Messiah as Moses was told by God that a prophet greater than him will come, whom the people should listen to. God revealed himself in the same fashion centuries later as he did with the Israelites on Mt. Sinai. On both occasions of theophany, the mountain was the venue with the Holy Spirit represented by the cloud hovering in the mountain, heralding the presence of the divine. The Israelites were encamped in tents at the foot of Mt. Sinai; Peter, though, suggested to pitch three tents at Mt. Tabor. At the beginning of Mt: 17, the prophesy is fulfilled as the voice of God was heard, “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.”

This theophany, or God’s manifestation shows the divinity of the human Jesus in what is called Transfiguration. Right there and then, the scene unfolded also the history of salvation perhaps recounted by Peter, James, and John to Matthew, when Moses who represented the Law, and Elijah who represented the prophets were present. This must have been an encouraging and assuring sight for the disciples, especially in the coming tribulations. However, this heavenly reality abruptly ended and Jesus led them down the mountain, to the Cross, as the Cross is a necessity for redemption. As for us, we too must seek our Crosses, bearing and lightening the burdens of others for the love of God, to do what Jesus did when he bore our burdens, and the best way is to seek help from our Blessed Mother, to make us an icon of her son for she too suffered at the foot of the Cross, heart-pierced, she understands.