Category: Transfiguration

Transfiguration

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 16/03/2025

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The twelfth word in my Lent lexicon is:

TRANSFIGURATION.

It describes that mountain top moment when God’s glory breaks through into the ordinary lives of Peter, James & John allowing them an insight into the mystery and wonder of God. Peter’s response tells us how moved they are by it:

“Master, it is wonderful for us to be here…”

God’s glory can break through into our ordinary lives, as it did for the disciples. It can transform the ordinariness and enable us to see them in a new way. This has the potential to delight and strengthen us, it is also a challenge.

Like Peter, when we glimpse that glory we want to stay with it. We long to be held in the shelter of God’s presence, protected from the hardships of our lives. Tempting as that is, it misses the point of the Transfiguration. Those moments are not places to hide away from the challenges of the world. They are moments to draw courage from so that we can face the turmoil of the challenging times we live in.

The key to the Transfiguration is in these words spoken from the cloud:

“This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.”

It’s a call to listen to Jesus that requires we are both open to those intense moments of transformation and willing to move on from them. It’s a call not only to listen, but to respond to his words, allowing them to shape our actions and encounters. It’s a call to leave the places where we feel safe and comfortable and follow him, learning to respond to life’s challenges with love, kindness and compassion.

Where is Christ transfiguring your life this Lent?

Tags #Awe, #Benedictine, #call, #challenge, #Disciples, #Discipleship, #Follow, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #listen, #love, #newlife, #Transfiguration, #trust, #Wonder

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Scripture Transfiguration Uncategorized

The call to transformation.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 06/08/2024

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

The Transfiguration is a beautiful feast. It gives us an insight into the mystery of God. It shows us how God’s glory can break through into our ordinary lives, transforming them and enabling us to see them in a new light. Yet it’s also full of challenge.

Like Peter, when we glimpse that glory we want to stay with it. We long to be held in the shelter of God’s presence, protected from the storms and hardships of our lives. Tempting as that is, it misses the point of the Transfiguration. Those moments of intense encounter with God are not places to hide away but ones to draw courage from so that we can face the turmoil of the challenging lives and times we live in.

It seems to me that the key to the Transfiguration is in these words spoken from the cloud:

“This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.”

It’s a call to listen to Jesus that requires we are open to those intense moments of transformation, but are also willing to move on from them. It’s a call not only to listen, but to respond to his words, allowing them to shape our actions and encounters.

It’s a call to leave the places where we feel safe and comfortable and follow him whatever challenges life presents, and to learn to respond to those challenges with love, kindness and compassion.

Where are you being called to listen to Christ in your life today?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #Elijah, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #listen, #listening, #love, #Moses, #newlife, #Transfiguration, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Gospel Lectio Divina Lent Scripture Transfiguration Uncategorized

Transfiguration and transformation.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 25/02/2024

Image by Marion Wellmann from pixabay.com

The transfiguration is one of those moments when the glory of God breaks through into life. Seeing Jesus transfigured and in the presence of Elijah and Moses the disciples can’t help but be aware that they are in the life changing presence of God. This is both a wonderful a frightening experience. This shouldn’t surprise us because throughout scripture encounters with God are disturbing for the people who experience them.

Mark tells us that it is fear that prompts Peter to suggest they build tents for Jesus, Elijah and Moses. In his panic he tries bring this startling experience under control. We should sympathise with this tendency because we’re likely to do the same ourselves when God breaks through into our lives.

But the instruction God gives them is not to try to control the situation or make it manageable:

“This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him.”

Instead voice that comes from the cloud calls them to take the risk of opening themselves to this new experience. God calls them to listen to Jesus, God’s Beloved, and to allow what they hear to change them. Telling them not to talk about the experience, Jesus gives them time and space to reflect on the encounter and what it might mean for them before they have to share or explain it to others.

Lent gives us the opportunity to take space to reflect on our own encounters with God and how we respond when God breaks into our ordinariness.

How are you being invited to respond to God’s startling presence in your life this Lent?

Tags #Beloved, #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Elijah, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #listen, #love, #Moses, #newlife, #Scripture, #Transfiguration, #trust