Transfiguration

Luke 9;28-36, (37-43a)  V 35“Then a voice from the cloud said “This is my son, my chosen one. Listen to Him”

Jesus along with Peter, John and James went up a mountain to pray. “And as He was praying, the appearance of His face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Moses and Elijah were talking with Him when the disciples who had been sleeping woke up and saw this. A cloud surrounded everyone and “terror gripped them”. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen one. Listen to Him.”

This passage in the bible from the gospel of Luke , also found in Mathew 17:1-8 and Mark 9:2-13, is titled in the bible I am reading now “The transfiguration”. That means “a complete change in form or appearance into more beautiful or spiritual state. “Jesus’s body and clothes were changed into something different and he was seen talking to two long dead people, who also therefore had new bodies. A glimpse of the spiritual world to come.

Whilst we are in this world our goal is one of transformation. The act of transforming or the state of being transformed. The disciples were stunned at what they saw and then a cloud enveloped them, and they were terrified. And then a voice from the cloud said” This is my son, my chosen one. Listen to Him.”

Following Jesus was exhausting, the disciples were sleeping on the mountain. A sound sleep that when they woke  they were disorientated and not sure what they were seeing. At times it is terrifying, but it is important that we listen to Him. If we want to experience the new bodies promised to all that believe in Him we have to listen. Despite being exhausted and terrified. We have to work at transformation , adding spiritual practices into our day to help with this. The more you practice the better you become. Find time in your day to say a quick prayer, whilst cleaning your teeth, driving to work, packing lunches, folding laundry, walking up or down stairs or simply start with the Lent practice mentioned at the end of this blog post.

Prayer: Holy Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus to us so that we may learn from Him more about you and your love for us. Show us where we have time in our day to give you glory. Amen

 Lent- smile at as many people as you can