A Favorite from August 6, 2012 . . . Transfiguration
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Ludovico Carracci: TransfigurationToday is the Feast of Transfiguration and it brings us an opportunity to reflect on the plans God has in mind for us. Let us spend time this week reflecting on God’s goodness . . . and the plans he has in mind for our joy.
Matthew 17:2 – Jesus was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
God says: You have read this story a number of times and you always think that it is only describing what I have in mind for my son. Remember that you are also my child . . . and I call you to transfiguration as well. I have only marvelous plans in mind for you. I will always turn the harm that you suffer to goodness. You are so very precious to me.
Let us think again about what the Transfiguration means for us. Type the word Transfiguration in the blog search box and select a reflection. The journey of discovery always begins with a first simple step.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
For a long time I have reflected on the idea of how it is determined who is given the gift of faith and who is not. I have had conversations with God in which I ask why it is that some of us are so stiff-necked and others of us have the gift of patience. I trust God’s plan, I believe that we are created to be God’s children, and here in the Gospel of John, in one simple sentence, we are enlightened. I will have to refer to this citation when the questions rise from some place of wonder to pull me from my core of belief.
Believing in Jesus as the Word, as Resurrected, as brother – this is what makes us children of God. Through him, with him, in him, in unity with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is pre-existence. Jesus is the Incarnation – the word and thought and touch of God amidst us. Jesus is an offering, a gift freely given by a loving and passionate God . . . a God who loves us so deeply and so endlessly . . . that he brings himself to us without our even asking.
What a wondrous God is this.
Adapted from a Noontime written on April 23, 2008 and posted today as a Favorite.
Isaiah 55:10-11: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
God gives us great gifts . . . and asks that we use them well.
Jesus tells us parables of unfaithful and faithful stewards who abuse or use well the office with which the master entrusts them . . . and we see ourselves somewhere in these stories.
The Spirit moves us to act on the word we hear . . . and we are free to deny or respond to God’s call.
God creates us in his image . . . and asks that we go forth to represent him in the world.
Jesus models God among us . . . and calls us to follow him.
The Spirit lives within each of us . . . and manifests God’s word to the world.
We receive great gifts . . . and are asked to do much with them.
We are great gifts . . . and we are asked to share.
What nourishment do we bring to others? What sustenance do we provide to others? What action do we take as we achieve the end for which we are sent?
Jeremiah 31:16: Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward.
These are words we welcome heartily. They are words we are anxious to hear. They tell us that transformation can and does take place. This is good news indeed.
God says: There is no valley so deep that I cannot and will not plumb its depth in my search for you. There is no mountain so high that I cannot and will not climb its height in my quest for you. There is no world too wide, no dream too dense, no nightmare too horrific that will keep me from you. And my love for you is so intense that when I touch you those tears of sorrow become tears of joy. So cease your crying . . . and bring your sorrow to me.
The faithful need not fight, we are told. The faithful only need turn to God for all for God turns all harm to good. God transforms all. God is all we will ever need. God is our reward.
Good is the Lord to one who waits for God, to the soul that seeks God.
If we might persevere long enough, if we might encourage one another often enough, if we might remain constant beyond the required time . . . then will our enemies shrink into darkness and our troubles slither away.
God says: I know how hard you work at remaining faithful to me. I understand how difficult it is to hold out hope in the darkest of times. I know that others will tug at you to pull you down and away from me. None of this matters because my healing love for you endures forever. You are a pearl of great price and I am willing to pay a great ransom to have you with me. This is a truth you can rely on; it is a reality you can believe. Seek me before all else. I will wait for you for an eternity.
Jeremiah 42:3: Let the Lord God show us what way we should take and what we should do.
Several options lie before us; we cannot decide what to do.
Our opponents attack us: we cannot decide what to say.
We become blinded by our quickly paced life; we are deafened by too many voices that clamor for our attention.
God says: Let me show you which way to go; let me give you the words you are to speak. Even if you are afraid to go where I call or to give voice to my love . . . you need not fear. I will never abandon you. All you need do is listen. All you need do is be still. And a voice from behind shall sound in your ears telling you when to turn to the right or to the left as my prophet Isaiah has said (30:21).
When we are too confused and too paralyzed to react let us be still . . . to listen. Let us put our trust in God . . . to speak. Let us believe that God lives in us . . . and act. For in this way the paralysis we see as curse . . . becomes a transforming gift.
Psalm 121:3:God will not let your foot slip and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
Málaga, Spain: The World’s Most Dangerous FootpathWe panic too quickly. We lack trust. We believe in our own futile powers more than God’s. We forget that God has and is all.
God says: I do not mind that you are afraid to trust me. I do not worry that you believe in yourself more than you believe in me. I will always be waiting for you. I will always be guarding you. I will always be guiding and calling you. There is nothing you can do or say that will cause me to turn away. I am with you always. If you are exhausted, put down your head and sleep awhile. If you are hungry, dine with me this evening. If you are lonely, spend some time with me. If you are sad or fearful, come to me.
Let us be mindful that God does not break the promises he makes . . . and let us aim to keep our own promises.
Let us remember that God abides by the covenants into which he enters . . . and let us endeavor to remain faithful to our own vows.
Let us consider that God is the eternal shepherd and sentinel . . . and let us aspire to the same constancy and abiding love in our own relationships.
As we travel along today’s portion of our journey, let us consider that even the most treacherous path becomes an easy passage . . . when we walk with God.
Romans 12:9-13: Let love be without any pretense. Avoid what is evil; stick to what is good. In brotherly love let your feelings of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others as more important than yourself. In the service of the Lord, work not half-heartedly, but with conscientiousness and an eager spirit. Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly; share with any of God’s holy people who are in need; look for opportunities to be hospitable.
If we are looking for a formula for happiness . . . here it is.
If we are wondering what yardsticks we might use to measure ourselves . . . here we have them.
If we are asking ourselves how we might experience peace . . . here is the answer.
Focus on what is good, seek wisdom, be persistent, pray in all circumstances, welcome others, share God’s mercy, live a life of authentic love. Paul gives us a recipe for joy that may seem difficult; yet it is simple.
Serve God by serving others . . . love God by loving others. We have been granted the ingredients . . . now we must use them well.
Da Vinci: The Last SupperRevelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.
We often see the Book of Revelation as a bizarre, apocryphal tale that we cannot understand without commentary. Sadly, we decide that it is too symbolic and too strange to have much impact on our lives.
In the penultimate verse of the Book of Revelation, we hear the words; Yes, I am coming soon. Regretfully, we decide that since we have not seen Jesus in the last half hour in a form we recognize then these words have little to do with our lives.
We flip through the last pages of the Bible, deciding that the events happened too long ago to matter and we close the door to Scripture before we even look at the Book of Revelation. Disappointedly, we look elsewhere for hope; we go elsewhere for joy; we search other faces for love. And yet . . . Behold, God stands at the door and knocks.
Let us spend some time this week-end discerning God’s presence in our lives. And let us decide to dine with God tonight.
To reflect more on how we perceive God’s presence and action in our lives, enter the word Door in the search box above and click on a post that speaks to you.
The Noontimes 