Mountaintop Experience

Many people recall “Mountaintop Experiences” in their lives. The account of these experiences may have some similarity to the episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus from Matthew’s Gospel in the Roman Catholic lectionary today. We may explain these experiences as knowing when we were in top form. The sense of the liturgy today is the role of faith in the movement we discern towards holiness and deeper intimacy with the Divine. We are called to reflect on the mountaintop as marker and challenge for change. Larry Gillick SJ, of the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton University offers a reflection on the change in the understanding of Jesus experienced by the apostles, Peter and James and John. Their friend and teacher is suddenly presented as much more. The revelation is beyond their understanding. The Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) and the message declaring the beloved Son are to be integrated into their journey. How? When? The reality of “mountain top experience” is often difficult to grasp. As Paul exhorts Timothy in his second letter to surrender himself to the holy calling which is to accomplish the purpose of God through the power of the grace and intimate union with Word made flesh. Genesis begins the story of the faith journey of Abram, who responds with faith in a reality he cannot see to continue his obedience to the will of God. The blessings he has known in Haran are to be carried as memories as he lives the new challenge of responding to the call to move on to greater intimacy and trust. The psalmist proclaims “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” The ‘fear’ around mountaintop experience has a few components. Certainly the fear connected with awe, amazement and the unknown is present but the ‘fear’ which builds hope, faith and the trust which enables action is the ‘fear’ that the new revelation, relationship or understanding will disappear. It is the ‘fear’ in which we work out our salvation.

(Gillick S.J., 2011)



Gillick S.J., L. (2011, March). Daily Reflection. Retrieved March 20, 2011, from Creighton University's Online Ministries : http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032011.html