“If he were not of the same nature as ourselves, his command to imitate him as a master would be a futile one.”
READ: MATTHEW 17:1–13
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. “Lord,” he said, “it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favor. Listen to him.” When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. “Stand up,” he said, “do not be afraid.” And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus. As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, “Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” And the disciples put this question to him, “Why do the scribes say then that Elijah has to come first?” “True,” he replied, “Elijah is to come to see that everything is once more as it should be; however, I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognise him but treated him as they pleased; and the Son of Man will suffer similarly at their hands.” The disciples understood then that he had been speaking of John the Baptist.
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
The Church has always recognized the Transfiguration as a theophany, a visible manifestation of God. Christ Himself is the Second Person of the Trinity; the cloud represents the Holy Spirit, the Third Person (who hovered over the waters before creation: see Gen. 1:2); and the voice is of God the Father, the First Person, speaking as plainly as we could ever ask for, in order to teach us the one necessary lesson: “Listen to him [Christ].” It is the same lesson that came at the theophany during Jesus’ baptism at the hands of John the Baptist, the new Elijah, who was to usher in the age of the Messiah. In St. Matthew’s Gospel, God the Father speaks only twice from Heaven, and He says essentially the same thing both times. It behooves us to consider deeply what that saying means.
Listening to Christ means getting to know Him, understanding His heart, and heeding His call in our lives. Jesus Christ is God’s own Son, sent by the Father to be our guide to fulfillment, to the meaning and happiness we all long for. There is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Christ alone is the answer, the secret to a life lived to the full. All we need to do is listen to Him, to turn our gaze to Him. How? By spending time in heartfelt prayer, by delving into the marvelous teachings of the Church, by steeping ourselves in the priceless living waters of the Gospels and the rest of Holy Scripture, by experiencing Christ Himself truly present in the Eucharist, and most of all by doing His will each day with faith, hope, and love, no matter what the cost.
RESPOND
You are the Lord of life and history. I believe in You, Lord. I believe that You are the focal point of all human history. I put my life in Your hands. I want to serve You, to walk with You, to help build Your kingdom. I want to follow You, Lord, today, tomorrow, and every day of my life, no matter what You may ask of me.
Sometimes I wish that You would show Yourself to me as marvelously as You did to these three apostles. Wouldn’t that make it easier to follow You? But You know exactly what I need. All of Your life, Your doctrine, and Your love are mine. I have the Gospels, the Church, the Eucharist, my spirituality. I have Your forgiveness, guaranteed. Lord, the time has come for me to stop complaining. Christ, be my life.
REST
The cross still frightens me. I want things to go smoothly; I want to stay on the mountaintop. But You didn’t stay there. How much rejection, envy, and betrayal You suffered! And You did it to teach me what love really is: self-giving and self-forgetting. You love me with a personal, determined love. Teach me to love like that, with fidelity in tough times, with sincere deeds, no matter what the cost. Jesus, I trust in You.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
