The Transfiguration of Jesus was a prelude to an even more important event: the Father's command to listen to Jesus (Mt 17:5). We need the Father's command to listen to Jesus because of our natural aversion to what Jesus is talking about – the cross. We don't want to hear about taking up the cross and dying on it daily (see Lk 9:23). With Peter, we are inclined to say to Jesus: "May You be spared, Master! God forbid that any such thing ever happen to You!" (Mt 16:22) (see Catechism, 554) However, we must resist the temptation to contrive a crossless Christianity. We must listen to Jesus about the cross; for the agony, pain, and weakness of the cross is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24) – even the perfection of God's power (2 Cor 12:9).
If we obey the Father's voice and listen to Jesus, we will not only hear Jesus proclaiming the cross but also "speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). Then people will be graced to listen to us. We will even come to the point of never boasting "of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6:14). At the foot of the cross, we will say with the Father: "Listen to Jesus."
| PRAYER: | Father, may I hear what I have had the hardest time hearing. |
| PROMISE: | "His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, His kingship shall not be destroyed." –Dn 7:14 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus, transfigured, crucified, and glorified! Alleluia! |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College