Today is the Feast of The Transfiguration. Our Gospel (Mark 9:2-10) comes with a heavy theological payload. For our benefit, however, God has allowed a simple, yet powerful message through.

If it doesn’t seem like it’s been very long since we last heard this Scripture, that’s because it was also the Gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Lent this year (March 12th, 2006). This simple message shone through as the teenagers that I minister to were finishing up an experience at the Diocese of Charleston High School Youth Conference. We can’t stay on the mountain forever. The heights experienced for three days with 1000 other young Catholics striving for holiness aren’t there every day of our lives. The Holy Spirit is there however (thanks be to God) and this is how we can experience holiness daily.

Beautifully (I love how the Holy Spirit orchestrates these things), my Pastor, Father Bob Sayer, spoke on this exact theme today at Mass. Since many of us go so long between these experiences, it’s tempting to want to stay on the mountain. In March, I wrote this song for my young people and I’d like to share it with you.

The Mountain (© 2006 Bingbit and Bryan Murdaugh)

My Lord took Peter, James and John up on the mountain
There was bright light, it was bright white
and as He stood with Moses and Elijah
the apostles saw something else to change their lives

Just like Peter, sometimes I wanna

Stay up on the mountain
but there are people to make disciples of
So we can’t stay up on the mountain
this is a Lord we need to share with ev’ryone