“Being ready to listen and obey the Voice of the Lord!”

(Based on Gen 15:5-12, 17-18, Phil 3:17-4:1 and Lk 9:28b-36 – 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C)

A story is told of a tribal man, who was visiting a busy town along with a group of tourists.

It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people.

Cars were honking… taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening.

Suddenly, the tribal said, “I hear a cricket.”
(Cricket is an insect, and makes a loud, persistent, chirping sound)

One of the tourists said, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!”

“No, I’m sure of it,” the man said. “I heard a cricket.”

“That’s crazy,” said the other tourist.

The tribal man listened carefully for a moment…
… and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing.

He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches…
… and sure enough, he located a small cricket!

The group of tourists were utterly amazed.

“That’s incredible,” said one of them, “You must have super-human ears!”

“No,” said the tribal. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.”

“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”

“Yes, it’s true,” came the reply. “It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you.”

So saying, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk.

And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears…
… they noticed every head within twenty feet turn
… and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

“See what I mean?” asked the tribal man, “It all depends on what’s important to you!”

As Christians, is the Voice of the Lord important to us?

If yes, then we will surely give heed to His Voice…
… pay attention and be obedient!

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by God to hear the voice of the Lord, to listen to Him and to be obedient to Him.

The second Sunday of the Season of Lent presents to us the “Transfiguration Event” from the Gospel of St Luke.

The scene of the Transfiguration is indeed a powerfully visual and authoritatively impactful incident.

Jesus takes three disciples – the core team among the Twelve – Peter, James and John – and led them up a high mountain. (Lk 9: 28)

Why were these three chosen?
…and not others?

Well… we can only make some guess-works… because the bottom-line is:
“They were ‘chosen'”
(Choice is always a gift, and not a merit!)

Peter:
• Probably as the one who is the Leader
• The one to whom the Lord entrusts to be the rock on which He would build His Church (Mt 16:18)

John:
• Probably as the one who had a intimate bond with the Lord
• The one who is referred to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 13:23)

James:
• Probably as the one who warranted a special privilege, being the first apostle to be martyred.
• The one who would be the first among the apostles to literally lose his life for Jesus (Lk 9:24)

These three also had a privilege of some “firsts”…
• Peter was the “First” Pope…
• James was the “First” Martyr among the apostles…
• John was the “First” witness to the death of Christ…

The choosing of the three also reflects Jesus as the New Moses!
Moses had chosen seventy (two) elders.
But when he went up to the mountain, there were three close men with him: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu. (Exodus 24:1)

Jesus had chosen twelve apostles.
But when he went up to the mountain, there were three close men with him: Peter, James and John (Lk 9:28)

Jesus is the New Moses…
….through whom the New Covenant will be established!
… through whom the New Law will be written on the tablets of the heart!

Up on the mountain, witnessing the glorious and magnificent Transfiguration, the disciples behold their Master, Jesus in dazzling white… joined by Elijah and Moses. (Lk 9:30)

And then, they hear a voice, from the cloud…
“This is my Beloved Son! Listen to Him!” (Lk 9:35)

“Listen to Him”…is the commandment that is exhorted!
• The Apostles are to listen to the Beloved Son, Jesus and grasp His teachings for life
• The Apostles are to listen to the Beloved Son’s commitment in the path of suffering.
• The Apostles are to listen to the Beloved Son’s trust in God’s Will at every moment

The same words are today echoed boldly and loudly to each one of us: “This is my Beloved Son! Listen to Him!”
• Life will take us through many deserts and desolations of difficulties.
• Life will put us through various storms and hurricanes of hardships.

But in all such moments, are we ready and open to listen to the Voice of the Lord?

Abraham in the Old Testament…the Father of Faith… went through such immensely agonizing and hard moments. (Gen 22: 1-3)

Asked to sacrifice His beloved Isaac… His special one…
… Abraham was torn between listening to his own voice of affection for his child or to the voice of God
… Abraham was shredded between listening to his own reasonable mind or to the incomprehensible plan of God

• But Abraham chose to put his faith in the Lord… and to listen
• He chose to trust absolutely in the providence of God… and to be obedient

Yes, when we are in the dry deserts of life, we better be totally obedient to God.

When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.

The Lord will take us through…
… every crisis
… every desert
… every darkness
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8: 31)

Let us grow in our efforts to be completely obedient to our Master!
Let us pray for His grace to be truly listening and following the voice of our Master!

When the Voice of the Lord becomes important to us…
… then we will surely give heed to His Voice, pay attention and be obedient!

Are we ready to listen and obey the Voice of the Lord?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE HOPE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

Every man receives his eternal recompense in his immortal soul from the moment of his death in a particular judgment by Christ, the judge of the living and the dead.
We believe that the souls of all who die in Christ’s grace… are the People of God beyond death.

On the day of resurrection, death will be definitively conquered, when these souls will be reunited with their bodies. (CCC #1051-1052)