Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark took me back to another Sunday in the recent past and far away.

I was blessed to be a part of a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land last October/November, and joined 8 others in a group lead by Fr. Peter R. Precourt, A.A., our pastor here at St. Anne-St. Patrick Parish in Fiskdale, MA. Each day we travelled to a different place were our Lord had actually been; where He was born, lived, preached, fed, healed, prayed, died and rose.

The Sunday on our journey took us to Mt. Tabor for our daily Mass.  The ride up to the summit was scary and prayer-filled! The hairpin turns didn’t slow our drivers, but made us all nervous and grateful upon reaching the top. I couldn’t help but think that the reason only Peter, James and John witnessed the Transfiguration was because they were the only ones that made it to the top with Jesus!

The immense church at the peak was designed to resemble the 3 tents Peter wanted to erect; one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. And the view from the mountaintop was breathtaking !

Fr. Peter was the celebrant for our Mass, which was held outside in one of the many areas arranged for groups.  The earlier mist having ended, we celebrated the Eucharist  and recounted the Transfiguration out on the actual mountain where it happened! The Spirit was almost palpable as the story was retold and one could easily imagine being there as witnesses.

Our Mass ended, it was time to move on to our next destination, but I like Peter, wanted to stay, my heart echoing his words; ”It is good that we are here”!

By Elaine O'Connor