Lord's Day Reflection: “A call to search for and listen”

By Fr. Marion Nguyen, OSB*

If we imagine something beautiful, we sometimes feel like we have already tried it. Just as Jesus longed to bring about the kingdom (cf. LK 12:49), also feel restless in our pursuit of a deeper community with God through our fast disciplines.

But true spiritual growth takes time. After all, what comes easy is often considered for granted – hence the saying, “Easy Come Easy Go.”

If we cannot expect to achieve our final goal at the beginning of our Lent, what can we hope for? The Evangelium's passage for this first week of Lent indicates that God invites, gives a look at the view and offers advice.

Both Augustine and Gregory looked at the transfiguration as a profound and intimate revelation in order to strengthen the faith of the disciples (see Augustine, Sermon 78; Gregory, Homily 32). This gift started with an invitation: “Jesus took Peter, John and Jakobus and went up the mountain to pray.” The disciples made themselves available to be led by Jesus.

The church fathers interpret Peter as a representative of faith, James as hope and John as love. This makes sense because these are the theological virtues – poison from God who lead us back to him.

The mountain, which is traditionally understood as a sacred meeting point, reminds us that the encounter with God requires willingness to rise above the ordinary.

The fact that we meditate through this passage shows that we received God's invitation and react to it. We started the trip.

As Jesus prayed, “His face changes in appearance and his clothes became dazzling white.” His face shone in Matthew's report “Like the sun” (Mt 17: 2). But who can watch the sun and not be blinded?

The light and glory of God are beyond the human ability to absorb – therefore God explains, “No man will see and live my face” (Ex 33:20). And yet in Jesus the disciples got a look at the glory of God and lived.

The writing assures us “Search and you will find” (cf. Mt 7: 7) because God is faithful to his word: “You will look for me and find me if you are looking for me with all my heart.” (Jer 29:13). But at the moment we can only get one glance, because we are not yet ready to wear the full power of divine glory (cf. JN 16:12).

Like the disciples who climbed the mountain, we tried to look for God with all my heart? How did we react when he gave us a moment of spiritual clarity?

This miraculous vision did not stop, although Peter asked to stay. When the eyes disappeared, the disciples realized that they had looked at the face of God, and in their human weakness they became afraid.

But God didn't want their destruction. Instead, he assured you with these words – words that have no greater advice: “This is my chosen son; Listen to him. “

Wisdom has the strength to listen to God, always confirmed: “My son, pay attention to my words, tend your ear to my sayings. Don't let her escape from your eyes; keep them in your heart. Because you are life for those who find you and heal to all your meat.” (PRV 4: 20-22; See RB Prol. 1; Dt 30: 19-20; is 55: 3)

This wisdom is no longer just words on one side; It took meat in Jesus. And he still speaks – we report, reveals an insight into his glory and leads us through his word.

The question is: do we listen to?

* Abbot of St. Martin Abbey, Lacey, Washington