Peter was expressing overwhelming happiness about the experience of Jesus' transfiguration in today’s Gospel; that is why he just said to Jesus: "Lord, let's just stay here, it's so good here, it's so joyful here." But it was clear to Jesus that this experience of transfiguration was not about escaping Jerusalem or avoiding what was going to happen to him – his suffering and death – when they descended from Jerusalem.

In our lives, there are what we call peak experiences. These are the experiences we won't forget; incredibly joyful experiences. These are the experiences where you feel like you want time to stop; like you want to stay here forever. These are the experiences that are warm and comfortable, experiences of wonder, an experience of happiness, of awe. And these experiences give us a sense of purpose; they give motivation to a person. And indeed, Jesus needed this experience of transfiguration; because the purpose of this experience is to strengthen the resolve of Jesus, to strengthen the resolve of the disciples, because from Mount Tabor or from the experience of transfiguration, they would eventually go to the mountain of Calvary.

If Mount Tabor was a mountain of the glory of transfiguration, Calvary was a mountain shrouded in darkness. If on Mount Tabor the face of Jesus shone, his face brightened, as they ascended Calvary, it would be filled with wounds. If on Mount Tabor Jesus' garments gleamed and were spotlessly white, as they ascended the mountain of Calvary, soldiers would gamble for them at Jesus' feet. They would strip Jesus. If on Mount Tabor the Father said, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him," as they ascended the mountain of Calvary, the Father was silent; it was as if he had forsaken Jesus. Perhaps, the Father's silence was why Jesus cried out, saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" If on Mount Tabor Peter said, "It's good here, let's just stay here," on the mountain of Calvary, his disciples would leave him. Jesus would face the most important battle of his life alone. That is why Jesus needed this, even though his disciples did not understand what Jesus was going through. And this weighed heavily on Jesus. He faced the most important battle of his life without his disciples understanding him; without his disciples accompanying him. That is why this experience of transfiguration is like a pat on Jesus' back, giving Jesus courage, because the Father knows that is my son. And what gives Jesus strength is the certainty that all this fulfills the will of his Father; all this fulfills the plan of his Father.

As we know, life is not always easy. Life is not always comfortable and warm. Life is not always happy. We go through heavy trials; we go through the storms of our lives. But like Jesus and the disciples, we have experiences of Mount Tabor, we have experiences of transfiguration. And these are what we carry when it seems like the storms of life are raging against us, when it seems like they are piling up, like we cannot get up anymore, we will revisit the history of God's goodness in our lives. There is a strong temptation to be like Peter; to flee Jerusalem. But Jesus faced all of this. Because he knew he carried Mount Tabor, the experience of transfiguration, when he faced his Jerusalem.

What might your Jerusalem be that you will revisit? What might be like Peter's Jerusalem, the one you are afraid to face? For some, it might be a pile of work waiting in the office. Perhaps for mothers, it is the tedious, repetitive daily chores of laundry, cooking, taking care of the family. Your Jerusalem could also be facing the person who betrayed you; facing the person who hurt you and trying to forgive. What could be the Jerusalem we are afraid to face?

But it is also good to revisit what the Tabors in our lives are. What is your Tabor? Whatever Jerusalem we will face, we have our Tabors that we have experienced; experiences of transfiguration. And despite all our fears and anxieties, it is as if God is tapping us on the shoulder and saying to us: "Don't be afraid, don't worry, I have begotten you, you are my beloved child." Jesus' transfiguration is a reminder to all of us that when we go through heavy burdens in life, the best is yet to come. There is more to life than this. Everything works for God for those who love the Lord. (cf. Romans 8: 28) Eye has not seen; ear has not heard what God has prepared for those who love him. (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10).