Discovering that we are beloved children

Listening to the Spirit

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen

Listening to the Word

Lk 9:28b-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.

While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Reflection

On the second Sunday of Lent, the Gospel is special. The Gospel does not speak of fasting or penance or suffering or the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Jesus goes to the mountain with his disciples for a joyful experience. As he prayed, "his face changed and his clothes became white and shining" (Luke 9:29). (Luke 9:29) It is the vision of the glory of God. In the midst of their spiritual journey, expecting suffering and hardship, happiness comes from contemplating Jesus as God. In this experience the disciples also see Moses and Elijah, the symbols of the Jewish religious tradition, united in the new teaching of Jesus himself.

The disciples are happy, but they also fall asleep, which means that they do not fully realize the significance of such an extraordinary experience. They want to build three shelters: "Let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (33) They are looking for a refuge, a comfort zone, so that they continue to experience the joy of contemplation on Tabor. But Jesus does not want the disciples to remain there and sends them back into the world. The contemplation of God is the source of the disciples' mission.

Moreover, at the end of the Tabor experience, the disciples heard a voice from heaven: "This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him." (35) The mission of the disciples requires listening to God, listening to the Word of God.

During this Lenten season we need to grow in our openness to God, by listening to Him, especially through prayer. This means taking more time to talk with God and also to improve the quality of prayer, which often means avoid distractions. Sometimes it is important to turn off our phones, social media, and other distractions so that we can connect with God and be alone with Him.

Prayer is not the only activity that bring us into the communion with God. The whole day must be an experience of union with Him. Nevertheless, it is also true that prayer, as a time completely dedicated to stay with Him, is extremely necessary to give meaning to all the rest we do during the day. We understand it when we look at our relationships. We can live together, work together, enjoy moments of relaxation together, but if from time to time we do not sit down to talk, to share, to get to know each other, sooner or later our relationships become shallow and we discover that we are strangers to each other. Prayer is the time when we "sit down" and talk with God, we get to know Him as our Father and we get to know His will. At the same time, we entrust to Him our worries and concerns, we share our joys, and we feel grateful. Prayer is this important conversation, the time set aside to enjoy the relationship with our Father. Then we go back to our other activities and continue to live with Him throughout the day.

The Gospel also reveals a fruit of prayer. In the experience of Transfiguration God says: "This is my Son, my beloved". (35) This voice reveals that Jesus is the Beloved. At the same time, in Him, we also discover that we are children of our heavenly Father and therefore "beloved". Prayer, listening to Jesus, allows us to enter into the experience of feeling God's love for us, a love that is immense, boundless, ready to die for me and for you. Prayer is not only commitment, effort, struggle... Prayer is this conversation with God that transforms us into His beloved children. It is a miracle: through the transfiguration of Jesus, we discover ourselves transfigured: children of God.