TRANSFIGURATION   2 cont.

“Jesus took with Him, Peter, James and John, and went on a mountain (hill) to pray.”
Reading and praying the Scripture we are bound to meet with many mountains, or hills, or a rising. In fact the word ambone is derived from the Greek words ‘ambo’ which means a small rising in the ground, a hillock if you want. From there we get the word ‘ambone’, because most times Jesus used to go on an ‘ambone’ to teach.

Going back to the mountains we find, in the Old Testament; Mount Horeb, Mount Sinai, Mount Moriah where Abraham had to sacrifice his son Isaac, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Jesus used to go up on a mount to pray, the Trials of Jesus took place on a mount, Jesus Himself used to teach the crowd from a mount, the Transfiguration took place on a mount, the Agony in the Garden was on a mount, the Crucifixion was on Mount Golgotha, and finally Jesus went up to Heaven from a mount.

Now, why is it that a mountain is always related to Prayer, Teaching, Suffering, Sacrifices, with Glory and Revelations ?
The reason is found in the symbolism of the mountain in the Jewish, particularly, and other Cultures. Because of its nature, the mountain always offers a ‘challenge’, to conquer its peak, to aspire upwards, both internally and externally.

Reaching the top, psychologically means, that you are free from the world, below, from everyday life. Reaching the summit means breathing more freely, fresh clean air, where you feel much better, inhaling pure air.

From on top you can see clearer, you get a better idea of the world below, you see life in a better perspective. You can now see creation in all its beauty and majesty. Now, you feel you are closer to the Creator. They used to believe that dialogue is better from this vantage point; He can hear you better, and you can hear Him clearer. The message should get through.

All this belief has been strengthened, underlined, supported by History; from up there God spoke to His children, on top of Mount Moriah Abraham was ready to offer up his son, Isaac, Moses received the Decalogue, Moses and Eliah were both privileged to receive Revelations. On top of the mountain Christ experienced His dialogue with the Father during His prayer sessions, and on top of Golgotha Christ offered Himself in the supreme Sacrifice; His Crucifixion.

Adapted from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI