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Second Sunday of Lent

February 20, 2005

Reflection prepared by Sister Anita Louise Lowe, OSB 

Reading:

• Matthew 17: 1-9

Reflection:  “It is good that we are here.”  Peter, James, and John have just witnessed a marvelous sight—Jesus has been transfigured. His face shone like the sun.  His clothes became bright as light. He conversed with Moses and Elijah.

Peter and the others had to feel overwhelmed by this experience. “It is good that we are here.” How true are those words, yet Peter hardly knew what he meant. For, it wasn’t good to be there so that he could erect three tents. It wasn’t good to be there so that the moment may never end. Rather, it was good to be there in order to gain understanding as to who Jesus truly was.  It was good to be there to hear the voice coming from the cloud, “This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”

Did Peter, James, and John truly understand what they had witnessed or could they comprehend what the voice they heard meant for them and for their lives? Probably not! In fact, if we look ahead a few verses after the story of the Transfiguration, we find the apostles trying to figure out who is the greatest among them. So, no, they probably did not understand how truly great it was for them to be there and to witness this event.

We have all had moments we might term spiritual highs. These may have come during a time of retreat or during a special time in life, perhaps during a moment of making a commitment or recommitment in life. We have experienced times when God’s presence is truly palpable, and we want to stay. We want to erect tents.  We want to hold onto that mountaintop experience. But, like the apostles, we have to come down from the mountain. We have to re-enter “normal” life. The challenge for us is if we can take with us the voice we heard, the message we obtained, the vision we saw—and carry it with us in daily life. Can we listen to God’s word and follow it when we’re no longer surrounded by the intensity of our “mountaintop” experience?

When we are in the ordinariness of life, can we discern God’s presence there, too?  Let us be open to the myriad of ways in which God is revealed to us everyday and may we, too, see how good it is to be here!

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

• Recall a peak moment in your spiritual life. How did you experience God? What part of that experience did you carry with you after the moment had passed?

• How do you find God’s presence revealed in the ordinary day, in the everyday moment? What do you need to do to be more attentive to God’s presence everyday?

• When can you say with Peter, “It is good for us to be here”? What makes it good?  What is your response to God’s loving presence?

Prayer:

Loving God, you reveal yourself to us in many ways and often in ways we fail to notice. We long for mountaintop experiences, yet you often come in simple, ordinary ways and events. Open our eyes and hearts to recognize you and to respond to your presence gracing us everyday. We ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Our Father