Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realised that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him. (Matthew 17: 1 – 3)

Jesus leads Peter, James and John up a high mountain. There, he is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white. In that moment, they glimpse who he truly is. They see glory where, only days before, they had seen the ordinary.

For those of us serving in Catholic schools, this passage feels deeply relevant. Every day we work with young people who do not always see their own light. Some arrive burdened by anxiety, disadvantage or low self-belief. Some test boundaries. Some quietly withdraw. Yet our vocation calls us to look beyond what is immediately visible and to recognise the hidden radiance within each child.

The Transfiguration reminds us that revelation often happens in the midst of challenge. The climb up the mountain is not easy, and neither is education today. Budgets tighten, expectations rise and needs grow more complex. Yet it is precisely in these demanding spaces that transformation unfolds. In patient conversations, in restorative moments, in consistent care, we help students catch a glimpse of who they are becoming.

As educators and support staff, we may not stand on literal mountains, but we stand daily on holy ground. When we choose hope over frustration, encouragement over criticism and faith over fear, we participate in that same work of revealing light. And sometimes, if we look closely, we see it shining back at us.