Scripture: Luke 9:28-36 (NRSV)
Waiting is difficult. I find it especially difficult when I don’t know what I’m waiting for. There have been various points in life that I know something will happen; I’m just not sure what.
The first time I remember this was my senior year of college. The BIG question was: “What am I going to do with the rest of my life?” As I have spent “the rest of my life” in higher education, I have heard this question over and over by students, and truthfully, asked this question over and over. In my most recent quest to answer this question I have become more keenly aware of my pattern. Name the problem: find the solution and map it out step by step. Fix my eyes on the prize and “GO!” That’s my pattern.
The universe has a pattern too: throwing curveballs. Sometimes the curveballs are surprising, better than anything I ever imagined, and other times they are stunning and throw me down to the ground.
While Peter, James and John might not have been asking the exact same question or know what their plan was, I can guess they didn’t expect the transfiguration. And the transfiguration seems to be one of those instances that is both surprising and stunning.
As I see it, the call for each of us living in wait for the promise of God to be both surprised and stunned is twofold. First, we are to live in trust and surrender by not trying to hold onto the beautiful surprises too hard and fast. Second, we are to cultivate the knowledge of being loved beyond measure – even in the moments of feeling knocked to the ground and stunned.
It’s Lent again and we remember the great gift of God made-flesh who lived as we are to live – celebrations, sufferings and unknowns.
Let it be done according to your will…
Scripture: Luke 9:28-36 (NRSV)
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.