“Praying for His Grace to be truly listening and following the voice of our Master!”

(Based on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord)

George Washington was the first president of the United States and one of the founding fathers of the US.
>> He was well admired for his strong leadership skills that saw him win the first two national elections unanimously.

Once at a banquet, given to some of the officers, a distinguished French Officer asked Washington’s mother, how she had managed to rear such a splendid son.

The mother replied, “I taught him to obey!”


Obedience was the school that he had been trained in, in order to achieve excellence of life!

In Christian life too, obedience ought to be the school in which we are trained, to be effective apostles of the Lord…
… Obedience to the Voice of the Lord
… Obedience to the Will of the Lord


The Feast of the Transfiguration is an exhortation by God…
… to listen to His voice and to be obedient to Him.


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 an 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 of 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
>> John was the “First” witness to the death of Christ
>> James was the “First” Martyr among the apostles


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.
In all such moments, we need to be ready and open, to listen to the Voice of the Lord!


When we are in the dry deserts of life, we are asked to be totally obedient to God.
>> 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!


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


Happy Feast of the Transfiguration!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SIGNS AND THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION – THE EFFECTS OF CONFIRMATION
>> For centuries, Latin custom has indicated “the age of discretion” as the reference point for receiving Confirmation.
>> But in danger of death children should be confirmed even if they have not yet attained the age of discretion. (CCC # 1307)
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