"This is my chosen Son; listen to him."

Listening to the Spirit

In our journey of Lent, we are together with Jesus on the mountain in one encounter with the Father, who ask us to listen to Jesus. Let's prayer to the Holy Spirit, figured in the gospel as cloud coming from on high…

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Spirit of wisdom and understanding, enlighten our minds to perceive the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity.
Spirit of right judgment and courage, guide us and make us firm in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus' way of love.
Spirit of knowledge and reverence, help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy in our everyday dealings with one another.
May we respect life as we work to solve problems of family and nation, economy and ecology.
Spirit of God, spark our faith, hope, and love into new action each day.
Fill our lives with wonder and awe in your presence which penetrates all creation.
Amen.

Listening to the Word

Luke 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

"This is my chosen Son; listen to him."

On our journey of Lent we are already on the second Sunday, the Sunday of the Transfiguration. One more step in the way of Jesus to accomplish His Paschal Mystery. In this occasion, we listen to the words of the heavenly Father, not toward Jesus but for us, disciples: "This is my chosen Son; listen to him."

These words are all about the season we are now. Lent is the time that we all our call to listen to. This is the way to discover our identity as children of the Father, like Jesus. Only listening to Jesus, to his words we can make the same experience of transfiguration. We can understand what we really are, chosen sons and daughters.

Being children of the Father is our true identity. This was His plan for us since the beginning of creation. Things happen later on then that beauty of sonship was spoiled and darkened. Now in Jesus, all of us have the opportunity to shine again as we listen to Him.

Lent is the best time for us to do this exercise of listen to. First of all, to listen to Him, but why not to have the courage to listen to others and also ourselves. In many situations, we are disturb not by noises around but by silence. We lost the dimension of noiselessness, we need to listen to something or someone, we are afraid of encountering silence. Thus, to words of the Father is for us: "… listen to him."

This is the time to make one experience of listening, more than that this is time practice silence. To have some times of detachment of gadgets, music, voices, work, etc. This is the time for us to listen to him.

There we will discover our true identity. There we can say like St. Augustine: “May I know You so that I may know myself.”

The event of the Transfiguration does not change Jesus, He is the same, the ones changing are the disciples. The faith of the disciples grows by listening to Jesus, as Paul tell us; “Thus, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10,17).

Lent is a time for us to know who Jesus is, and at the same time, who we are. To discover again our true identity. We can only do this by listening to Him.