Prayer in union with the Eucharist of Sunday 6 August 2023, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
As Father Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus and World Assistant of CLC, invites us to do, I ask for the grace to pause and encounter the Lord in a new and enlightened way.
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus. As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about this vision until the Son of man has risen from the dead.’ (Mt. 17, 1-9)
- In this passage from the Transfiguration, the disciples, Peter, James and John, represent all of us. The first invitation encourages us to give thanks for those moments of clarity when faith is simple and natural. I recall the moments of closeness to God that I experienced in CLC.
- The second invitation of the Gospel is to set out on a journey. To climb the mountain is to go to meet God. To set out is to uninstall. It means opening to encounter and reconciliation with oneself, the community and God. It means being willing to take risks to overcome obstacles. How does this resonate with me?
- The third invitation is to meet the Lord. It requires an inner silence, a silencing of my internal noise, to listen to the world and God in the world. I enter the silence to listen to what the Lord wants to say to me. Then I can enter a heart-to-heart dialogue with Christ.