“He was transfigured before them, and His garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them.” (Mark 9:3).
I recently read a short story about an exchange between an Augustinian priest called Father Llamas, and Saint Josemaría Escriva when Father Llamas had been giving the Saint a tour of the Monastery of El Escorial.
As part of the tour, the two priests passed in front of the Tabernacle and together, they stayed and prayed for a little while before standing to complete the tour. But before they could leave the Chapel, Saint Josemaría asked Father Llamas if he could stay a little longer to pray in front of the Holy Tabernacle. Father Llamas quickly agreed – being in no great hurry – and after twenty minutes of silent prayer, Saint Josemaría re-joined the other priest exclaiming, “It’s so good to be there!” and the two men completed the tour.
Father Llamas later said, “I still haven’t explained what I wanted to say, and I don’t think I can. The only way to explain it would have been with a camera that could catch the expression on the Father’s face when he begged me to grant him that little time alone with Jesus. I could see in his face the indescribable love of that very manly man for Jesus of Nazareth in his Real Presence in the Eucharist.”
And I have been reflecting on this story since hearing it some time ago, because it is a wonderful lesson in faith and love for such a soul as mine.
We are very lucky in the example provided by the Saints. You see, the Saints set such a mervellous example of holiness for lesser souls such as mine to follow, and Saint Josemaría is no exception – for he both followed the example of the saints who had gone before him and set an example for the rest of us…
You see, Saint Josemaría was not the first saint to recognise the Messiah in hidden form and ADORE Him – If you really think about it, Saint Josemaría was really just following the example of the apostles, who did that first…
In fact, during the Transfiguration – which is the mystery that we commemorate in the fourth luminous mystery of the Blessed Rosary – we meditate upon the vision of Christ in His glory…
“Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them, and His garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid.” (Mk 9:2-13).
And I have been reflecting on those words, “…For he did not know what to say…” and this gives me hope. Because I too often sit before the Blessed Sacrament, and I too, do not know what to say. And sometimes – like Saint Peter – my zeal gets the better of me and I utter such nonsense in my heart that were it not for the infinite love of my Heavenly Father, I feel sure that I would be mocked and rejected for eternity. And yet, I wish to sit there still, because I know that there is more and more and more that I would share with my Beloved, because “It’s so good to be there!” even though I do not know what to say…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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