In his book Will Power Doesn’t Work: Discover the Hidden Keys to Success, Dr. Benjamin Hardy expresses the importance of environment and how it is our environment that can help or hinder us from changing and being who we want to be. Mom was right when she said that, “you become the company you keep!“
Although we often have a hard time recognizing it, we adapt, for good or bad, to our environment. Changing our environment changes our brain. I remember spending time with a priest from Australia. After a few days together I found myself thinking with an Australian accent! When I recently changed my environment by shutting down my phone for 62 hours, I was able to focus, read, and be present to my loved ones. While hiking I often have the most profound insights into the scriptures and my spiritual life. I haven’t changed but the change of environment allows me to step out of the status quo. Removed from my day to day environment and my non-thinking habits, my brain is free to think, meditate, and make connections that it would otherwise not make.
In today’s Gospel, on this Feast of the Transfiguration, we find Peter, James, and John with Jesus on a mountain. The disciples are out of their normal environment. These fisherman are far from their homes, boats, and nets. It is here that they are truly able to focus on Jesus, who He is, and make some amazing connections.
Jesus is transfigured. What does this mean? We are told that, “his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.” This was the best way they could describe what they saw. Today we might say he was glowing, that everything about Him changed. My weak interpretation says that Peter, James, and John received a glimpse of the Resurrected Lord before the Resurrection! For a moment, they were allowed to see Him for who He truly is! In this unique environment, Peter begins to make connections. They see Moses and Elijah with Him. They see the great giver of the law and the great prophet and realize that Jesus is the fulfillment of both of these men. What were Jesus, Moses, and Elijah talking about? Matthew tells us that they, “spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.”
Peter makes more connections and cries out, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Here, in this unique environment, Peter is able to see more clearly who Jesus is and what He is about to do. He is excited and, being always a man of action, wants things to begin now.
However, being human, and returning to his normal environment, his vision and enthusiasm wanes. How many of us have had this same experience? We go on retreat, read an inspired book, meditate in a deserted place, and find great insight, solace, and courage for our life. Shortly after, days or even hours later, we find ourselves in a spiritual valley, deprived of our zeal and tempted to despair.
While we cannot live on the “mountain”, we must make time to change our environment often. We must plan times away from our daily routine even if it is just for a few moments of contemplation. In this way, we too can be transfigured and transformed into someone who is more and more like Christ, who has that “glow”.
The below video is from 2018 and the Real Life Rosary website no longer exists. However, I thought the meditation on the “glow” and transfiguration was a good one to share today. Enjoy…
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James M. Hahn, Author 