WITH HIM ON THE MOUNTAIN
“…[Jesus] led them up a high mountain by themselves.” -Mt 17:1
Each year the readings of the Second Sunday of Lent direct our attention to the mystery of Our Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor: an inexhaustible mystery.
I am ever intrigued by the connection of the dazzling and mysterious event of Christ’s Transfiguration and Catholic liturgical practice around Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. The monstrance—which is the name for the ornate and finely crafted vessel for the ‘showing’ and public adoration of the Consecrated Eucharistic Host—is often placed upon the altar on top of a throne or shelf, called a ‘Tabor’. Some tabernacles have a flat top which functions as a shelf, as for example in our Adoration Chapel. Some tabernacles were designed with a shelf that could pull out to allow for exposition to take place above the tabernacle, as at St. Hedwig and Holy Cross. The tabernacle in Holy Cross Church also has a special ‘Mount Tabor stand’ that fits over the tabernacle on the High Altar and allows the monstrance to be placed directly on top, just beneath the sculpted crucifixion scene. (You can see the image on the bulletin cover to see what I’m talking about.) This is used only on the most solemn moments of the liturgical year, inviting us to focus all our attention upon the Lord.
Perhaps what this indicates most beautifully is the connection between the grace of Eucharistic Adoration and the experience of the disciples Peter, James and John on Mount Tabor who fell at the feet of Jesus in worship. Their experience of Christ on the mountain was accompanied by the thunderous voice of the Heavenly Father: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” We are invited to ponder the truth of these words and to encounter Christ veiled and yet truly present.
Our annual Forty Hours Devotion takes place next weekend, March 10-12. My hope is that it can be a time for all of us to lift our hearts in fervent prayer. I have always seen it as one of the spiritual ‘high points’ of our parish’s calendar year and a source of tremendous graces. As He did at the hour of His Transfiguration on the mountain, Our Lord illumines our hearts by the reality of His Divinity. Through the rising incense and the glow of candles we are invited to contemplate Jesus’ Real and Saving Presence with us.
If you haven’t already, I want to invite each individual or household in our parish to sign up, to keep watch with Christ for one or more hours throughout the daytime or nighttime hours. Those who are able are encouraged to take the late night or early morning sacrificial hours. Binders listing the hours of adoration are available in each of our churches.
The Solemn Closing next Sunday afternoon at 2 pm is always a splendid occasion to give thanks to God for the supreme gift of the Holy Eucharist. The service will highlight our unity as a parish, grounded as it is in the Eucharist. I am pleased to welcome Fr. Tim Tran, Parochial Vicar of the Church of St. Stephen in Anoka, who will be our guest preacher. Fr. Tran was asked by Archbishop Hebda to serve as our Archdiocesan point-of-contact for the National Eucharistic Revival. Information may be found at www.eucharisticrevival.org/
The Solemn Closing is just the final hour but there are thirty-nine other hours of grace! Come throughout the weekend to experience the gift of silent stillness of His Presence. Bring Him the many intentions that you carry or simply sit in wonder at His feet. Even if you have never experienced adoration, come and try it. You will not regret doing so and might even find yourself wanting to become a regular adorer.
May the Lord make His radiant face to shine upon us!
~Fr. Howe