“Pagbabagong-Anyo”, a Tagalog word that reveals a lot about us. It’s a movement within, an inner journey that, when its goodness is complete, shows to itself. The path stirring inside will be exposed outside naturally. If we are full of gratitude, its authenticity cannot be denied. It could be manifested in the way we speak and act. “Pagbabagong-Anyo”, the person’s aura is reflected in words and deeds. It manifested outside from within, in the depth of one’s heart, the beauty is beyond compare. It speaks for itself. The gospel according to St. Luke depicts Jesus’ Transfiguration. At some point in His ministry, there will be moments that will reveal His real identity. As the disciples were following Him, in His ways, it will be discovered and experienced that He would have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem to enter into His glory. The disciples were afraid of what would happen to their teacher.

That’s why Jesus face changed and his dress became so white as a taste or the face of glory which reminds them do not be afraid. It happened when He’s praying in the mountain. We’ll remember that when Jesus was being baptized at the river Jordan, the heavens opened when He was praying. In anything Jesus prays first. The revelation of God happens during prayer. This teaches us that the plan of God will be known or experienced if we pray fervently with our whole hearts. Mostly the encounter of people with God is through prayer. God speaks in prayer; we listen and allow Him to enter with us. In silence, God speaks, and God communicates. God is trying to reveal something. Praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. We are strengthened. In the silence of our hearts, we could listen to the message of God, in our innermost being. We allow God to speak to us. Despite the many trials and troubles, we are enlightened. The heaviness within us becomes lighter. There is hope. Our perspective changed. We see light. We learned to understand what’s happening within. We are strengthened to readily forgive others. It humbles us. It makes us different. Like the disciples, it’s good to stay here—in good prayer, we do not like to finish.

The evangelist Luke is clear that the reason why Jesus went up the mountain was to pray. Like everyone else, he had to wait, think, worry, and pray for direction and clarity because he did not possess “all the answers”; Jesus realized he needed to pray, so he climbed the mountain. How much more do we need to pray during our times of anxiety, uncertainty or upheaval if Jesus needed to pray at that moment? As we keep moving in this Lenten journey, it is a fervent invitation to all of us. Spending five, ten, or fifteen minutes in prayer, alone with God, and conversing with him will undoubtedly help us be ready for Easter.

Beyond the ending of the gospel, the heavens opened, and God said: “This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him.”

This Pagbabagong-Anyo of Jesus showed us a call to return to the Father, whom we know loves us. It was a direct prayer experience, beyond words and our understanding. With
Father Palau, it’s a mystical experience, speaking with God, face to face: a transcendent one, reassurance that never he’s alone in His journey.

We have every reason to think that our prayers will be heard when we turn to God in prayer and trust him with our worries, fears, doubts, and anxieties. If we listen closely, we may even hear God say to us, “You are my child, my chosen one.”

May the observance of Lent help us to be more attentive to the sign of times, and prepare us to welcome the glory of God as we continuously seek His face in all walks of life.