Ordinary Time

February 19, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’

Jesus seemed to be preparing his closest disciples for what was to come next in his ministry, specifically his death, and resurrection. He planted seeds in their memories so that when they grieved their loss, flashes of those discussions returned to help them assimilate how they would turn such pain and despair into actions that literally changed the entire world, which Christ-followers are still striving to implement today as we work to build the Beloved Community.

Two thousand years later, where do we disciples obtain those spiritual seeds to store in our inner beings that are ready when we need them the most to fortify our work in attaining Christ’s vision? Practicing the spiritual disciplines is a primary source of such nourishment. There are many sources to help guide us in developing spiritual disciplines. I found Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster most helpful. They are not new. I learned much from reviewing The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, written in the 1500s.  The actual actions we adopt for our spiritual disciplines are not as important as our dedication to following a consistent pattern of communion with God and self-examination. We must resist the temptation to hone God in our image rather than working diligently to serve God from the aspects of the image of God in which all people are created.  

Prayer: Lord, help each of us find the best way to stay in close communion with you and live our lives as you equipped us to do in your image. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.