Which Fish are You?
“Jesus was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white…”
Once upon a time there was a small pond, a little more than a puddle, really. Day after day the fish in the puddle would swim around and around and fight over the measly water bugs. The little puddle was cradled between the roots of an ancient oak tree, which was beside a flowing river, which led to the sea.
One morning, the fish were startled by a sudden splash. A dazzling, bright white fish had jumped into their riverside puddle. Its dazzling bright white scales were luminous in the few rays of light that managed to shine through the muddy water.
“Who are you?” one of the prominent political puddle fish asked. “And what are you doing here in my pond?”
The luminous fish smiled, “I come from the sea!”
“The sea?” the political fished asked. “What’s the sea?”
The luminous fish answered, “No one ever told you about the sea? Why the sea is what fish are made for. Fish needn’t swim in circles all day and fight over a few measly bugs. In the sea, fish can dance on the tides of crystal clear water! And there is an over-abundance for all!”
A pale, professional puddle fish then spoke up: “But how do we get to the sea?”
The luminous fish replied, “All you have to do is follow me to the river and trust that the current will take you to the sea.”
One of the pond fish, a cynical practical – realist fish, swam forward with a hard, experienced look in his eye and said: “Talk of the ‘sea’ is fine — but we have to face reality. We know this pond. We know how to hunt for water bugs. We can survive here.”
“But you don’t understand,” the luminous fish said. “I come from the sea. I’ve been there. It’s far more wonderful than you can ever begin to imagine …”
But the cynical practical – realist fish just snickered and swam away.
Then a poor, weak-minded nervous fish then worked up the courage to speak. “Do you mean we’re supposed to jump into that big river?” the poor nervous fish stammered.
“Yes, the way lies through the river,” the luminous fish explained – trust me …,” but the poor weak-minded nervous fish scurried away before the luminous fish could finish.
The scientific fish then interjected, “Our distinguished visitor’s proposal deserves consideration. Perhaps we could hold a series of investigations over the next several days and study the impact this will have …“
The eyes of the luminous fish grew sad. “No, this is a matter of faith. You jump and trust that the river will take you to the sea. Will you follow me?“
A few fish, including a very old fish who refused to give up the dream of better things and a young fish who dared to hope in new things, trusted the luminous fish and jumped as He showed them how. And the current swept them to an exciting and happy new life in the great sea. But most of the other fish continued swimming in circles, hunting and fighting over a few measly water bugs.
Today we hear of the Transfiguration of Our Lord from St. Mark’s gospel, and ever since the Incarnation, the divinity of our Lord has usually been hidden behind His humanity. But now Christ wishes to show, to these three favorite disciples, who will later be pillars of the Church, the splendor of His divine glory, in order to encourage them to follow the difficult way that lies ahead, fixing their gaze on the happy goal which is awaiting them at the end. This is why, as St Thomas Aquinas comments, that it was appropriate for Him to give them an insight into His glory. The fact that the Transfiguration comes immediately after the first announcement of His suffering and death, and His prophetic words about how His followers would also have to carry their Cross, shows us that through many trials and tribulations can we enter the kingdom of God.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, like the story of the luminous fish and the puddle, the Gospel of the Transfiguration confronts us with both the promise of faith and what that faith demands of us. On the mountain of the Transfiguration, St. Peter and the disciples behold both the Jesus of the cross and the Jesus of the Resurrection. It’s a vision that holds a glorious promise — but also a vision that will be realized only at a heavy price. Accepting the God of blessing and joy is one thing, but when God asks us to “jump” — to give readily and humbly and sacrificially, and to forgive without condition — then we retreat to the safety of our little “puddles.” The Lenten weeks ahead call us to descend the mountain with the “transfigured” Jesus and to take up our crosses, be they physical, emotional, economic, or intellectual, and realize the sacred goodness and dignity within each one of us that enables us to understand that the embracing of the Cross will always lead us to the realization of the promise of Eternal Life in Heaven and live happily ever after, amen!
Mary, Mother of the Faithful, pray for us!
