A sermon on Luke 9:28-36: The Transfiguration of Jesus

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Have you ever walked a prayer labyrinth or even know what it is? It is a one-way path in a circle that leads to a center spot where you open your heart to listen to God. It is a prayer where you empty your mind of all daily cares so God can talk with you. 

As I began this prayer journey, I thought about the many people I knew disfigured by sickness, loneliness, sadness or grief. My walk through the labyrinth began with painful memories. I prayed for them, but realized I had to let go of these memories so I can listen to God speak.

I reached the center spot where I expected a divine revelation from the Lord. It never came. I stood there for 10 minutes. Nothing happened. Disappointment came over me. I walked out of the labyrinth feeling like it failed. 

God finally revealed Himself once I walked out of the labyrinth. He said to me, "Michael, I was speaking to you the whole time through your memories." Then three words came to me I believe were from God. He said, "transfigure the disfigured."

God helped me to understand what that meant through a little boy who had a disease that disfigured his face. He had a disease similar to the elephant man Joseph Merrick called neurofibromatosis. His face had thick lumpy skin like an elephant. If one looked beyond his disfigured face, they could see divine goodness in his soul. 

I spent a lot of time with this little boy who got a bum deal in life. I played a game with him called, "flip a dollar." I would flip a dollar in the air. He would call "heads or tails." I always made sure the dollar landed to whatever he called. He got a lot of money from me, but it was worth it.

The day came I would never see him again because he was moving away to another hospital. One of his last words to me was, "Thanks for making me happy. Life isn't all bad."

Jesus transfigured His body to reveal the divinity with in Him. Jesus knew that very soon Peter, James and John would behold His disfigured bloody, broken and dead body on the Cross. Jesus was saying to them, "Keep faith. God is in control. I am with you when life seems hopeless. I can change (transfigure) the worst situation into goodness." 

The worst sin ever committed against God was "deicide." Humans killed God. Yet, from the worst sin ever committed came the greatest blessing known to man. The disfigured Jesus on the Cross transfigured human life into something beautiful for the Father. Friendship is restored, Life lives on, and Love reigns supreme.

Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” 

Jesus brings to you the good news that God's Divinity dwells within the most difficult, the most painful, the most sorrowful moments in your life. The Divine Jesus can transfigure the disfigured. You have to let Him be in control. Give it over to Him. See the Divine working in everything.

I close with the lyrics from a very old song penned by Charles Wesley:

“Christ whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
daystar in my heart appear.”