The transfiguration

Matthew 17 : 1 - 9

This is my beloved son....listen to Him

Today we remember the transfiguration of the Lord. Peter, James and John were the three disciples who were given the honor of the moment. It was a high point in their relationship with Jesus. Just before, they could hardly understand his prediction of his passion and death. Now they were given the assurance that Jesus is the son of God and therefore they were to listen to everything he told them.

God's glory came in the form of a cloud and a voice, as they watched Jesus transfigured, speaking to Moses and Elijah. They were awakened to the presence of God's glory, although they were asleep initially (Luke 9 : 32).

Listening to Jesus is not always easy because we may be asleep spiritually. It may be due to mental lethargy, a failure to reflect on our lives, and not facing the realities before us. It may be a life of material success that hinders us from the voice of the Lord. Or we may be prejudiced by our own expectations of how things 'should' be. Sometimes our sorrow causes so much distress that we are unable to look past it to the glory of the Lord.

I believe the Lord grants us 'visions' (not usually in the form of images perhaps, but often in a keen sense of his presence) of himself from time to time, to strengthen us. The many hindrances need to be consciously set aside, in order that we might see and hear, and trust.

It is only as we become witnesses to God's glory that we will be transformed and learn to faithfully and authentically share our faith.

"We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another...(2 Cor. 3: 18).