The celebration of the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of Jesus took place here on Mount Tabor and started on the vigil of the feast, as soon as the local Christians arrived with their families.
Naim came with his family to celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus and also the birth of his daughter! He tells us that he was here with his pregnant wife seven years ago when it was necessary to get her down from the mountain for the delivery of the baby. “This - he tells us - is also an opportunity to pray for peace around the world!”
Seeing so many people camping brings us back to what Peter said to Jesus:
(Mt 17: 4)
During the night, there was a great coming and going of people ... many pilgrims climbed the Holy Mountain on foot!
It is daytime now! The solemn mass is being presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton.
In his homily, Father ZAHER ABBOUD, who has been carrying out his pastoral ministry in Galilee, explained how man was not created for darkness, illness or tiredness ... He continued emphasizing our need to walk with God and to open our eyes to see the beauty of this world! “Being at Tabor - he pointed out - helps to contemplate how wonderful creation and the face of God are!”
Father FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"The celebration of this solemnity is very beautiful: Jesus reveals Himself to us with his luminous face, here on the mountain. Celebrating the Feast of the Transfiguration here on Mount Tabor is like drawing a little light from Jesus' face.
We need to bring this light into our hearts so that we, as the Apostles, will be able to face the dark moments ... the hour of Passion.
If we carry in our hearts the luminous moments that witnessed our encounter with Jesus, we can also face trials and difficulties.”
Father Vincenzo Lolli
Augustinian Priest
"It is a beautiful solemnity not so much for the outward appearance, but, above all, for what the transfigured face of Christ evokes ... it recalls Paradise, beauty, and all that God wants to give us: life, beauty, glory and splendor.”
RABAB ZAIBOUN
Local Christian Woman
"Each year, on occasion of the Mount Festival, as we local Christians call it, we come to Jesus and for Jesus, like the disciples did. Being here enables us to understand that we need to detach ourselves from material things, to look to heaven, as earthly things often separate us from Jesus. Jesus did not choose this mountain for His Transfiguration by chance. It is hard to climb up here! But He Himself said: (Mt 16: 24)
At the end of mass, everyone went to the chapel that is the place where Jesus told his apostles:
(Mt 17:9)
Now, it is time to leave the mountain, return to reality, transfigured, for the love of God!
Father FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
“We would love to stay here, but we, too, must descend from the mountain, as Jesus said ... we must return to our everyday life, but we need to do so by bringing in our heart the luminous face of Jesus and His Word.”
