Deep listening in prayer allows us to encounter God's love, face our fears, and surrender control to His will.
The story of the Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine glory and highlights the importance of listening to him.
Deep dives
The Transfiguration of Jesus
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where he is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun and his clothes become white as light. Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus. Peter suggests building shelters for them. A bright cloud covers them and God's voice declares Jesus as his beloved son. The disciples are terrified but Jesus reassures them. As they come down, Jesus tells them not to share this until after his resurrection.
The Monastic Movement and Desert Fathers and Mothers
The desert fathers and mothers, known as the early monastic movement, retreated to the desert to seek God in prayer and listen in silence. They believed that society was in decline and that retreating from the world was essential for the world's sake. This tradition of seeking solitude and silence continues today, with many calling for a form of neo-monasticism to counter the noise and chaos of modern society.
The Significance of Listening to Jesus
Jesus frequently withdrew to remote places to listen to his Father and be transformed by his presence. The story of the Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine glory and highlights the importance of listening to him. Deep listening in prayer allows us to encounter God's love, face our fears, and surrender control to His will. It is through listening to Jesus that we are transformed and empowered to live fearlessly and faithfully.
The Connection Between the Transfiguration and the Crucifixion
The story of the Transfiguration is connected to the crucifixion of Jesus. The Transfiguration displays Jesus' glory and divinity, while the crucifixion reveals His humility and willingness to suffer. By holding the tension between these two events, we gain a deeper understanding of the gospel and the transformative power of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
At the fulcrum point in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus goes up on a high mountain where he is transfigured before his apprentices. Over their fear, the apprentices hear a voice from heaven saying, “listen to him!” Thousands of years later, in our own fears, the call to find a mountain and listen to Jesus is greater than ever.
Key Scripture Passage: Matthew 16v28-17v13
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