This My Beloved Son...Listen to Him

 Do you remember when you first felt an undeniable prompt that called you to pursue a goal or an activity? I wonder how many of us know when we have heard and responded to God's voice. While reference to "a calling" is commonly associated with clergy, we don’t often consider that we’re “called” to a career or a secular vocation or even volunteering. But, why not? I pose this question because the story of the Transfiguration (Matthew17:1-9) reminds us to listen to and look for God’s will in all we do. And just like the spectacular events of the transfiguration blinded Peter, James and John, we too can be distracted by the “noise.”

The scene moves very quickly as Peter in all his excitement is eager to do something to acknowledge this transformative event even before he knows what he has seen or has transpired. We feel like saying to Peter "Please be quiet and just listen before you do anything!" 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 beloved Son; listen to him.”

Maybe everything started to become clear and made sense to Peter as he saw, listened and heard the word of God, but as we know too well, it didn't last very long. How many times did Jesus remind Peter of his destiny? Like us, Peter may hear but are we really listening? Are we too intent to responding or reacting instead of getting out of the way and just listen."

Perhaps Peter's transformation comes about when he repeatedly fails, falls, and is lifted up again. We too try our best and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail. We, too, have moments of insight and moments of denial. We too, fall down in fear and are raised up again to go forth in confidence. Isn’t this the pattern that shapes the lives of every Christian? Don’t we identify with Peter? Don’t we see ourselves in this story? This story is as much about Peter and Jesus as it is about us as we are asked to listen and to hear his voice and know God’s will for us.

In these past weeks Luke has called our attention to Jesus’ humanity in which we share a common bond. In this week’s gospel, Luke reveals Jesus' divinity. Just as we share in Jesus’ humanity, we also share in his divinity. We must listen as we are called and if we are to be transformed and become disciples of Jesus and to be the people of God. 

“There have been quite a few times when I have felt the winds of God’s grace in the sails of my small boat. Sometimes these graces have moved me in pleasant and sunlit directions. At other times the requested acts of love were born in the darkness of struggle and suffering. There have been spring times and there have been long cold winters of struggle for survival. God has come to me at times with the purest kindness, at times with the most affirming encouragement, and at other times with bold frightening challenges. I think that all of us have to watch and pray, to be ready to say “yes” when God’s language is concrete and his request is specific-“yes” in the sunlit spring times and “yes’ in the darkness of winter nights.” (John Powell, S.J., The Christian Vision, The Truth That Sets Us Free, p147)