What is the Reason Jesus Went to the Mountains? You Should Too...

The readings from this homily:

Father Chris Alar, MIC, shares the vivid experience of walking the holy sites of the Holy Land, especially the solitary presence on Mount Tabor where the Transfiguration unfolded. He reminds us that the “apocalypse” is not fire and ruin but the unveiling of divine mystery in the Mass—the very moment Christ revealed His divinity through His humanity.

Drawing from the Catechism (568), Fr. Alar explains that the Transfiguration strengthens the apostles’ faith in anticipation of the Passion and prepares them for the ascent to Calvary. He connects each sacrament—Confession, Baptism, Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, Holy Orders—to this unveiling, showing how the sacraments are the channels through which Christ’s radiant glory transforms our broken nature.

This homily moves from the mountaintop to the valleys of everyday suffering. Father Chris urges us to imitate Christ’s prayerful ascent: first ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” rather than catalog our needs. He challenges us to let that divine illumination guide us back into the world, to the “valley of tears” where the sick, the poor, and the spiritually wounded await our mercy.

He recalls the story of cameraman Giuseppe, whose family is caught in that valley, illustrating that the call to descend is personal and urgent. By sharing the grace we receive on the mountain, we become instruments of the Gospel, preparing souls for the final gathering in the Kidron Valley at the Second Coming.

In this spirit, Fr. Chris invites each listener to discern who God is calling us to lift up, to climb the mountain of prayer, and then to descend, bearing the light of Christ to those in need. May the Blessed Virgin intercede that we live this ascent‑descent rhythm, becoming true bearers of divine mercy in a world longing for redemption.