Reflection for August 6, 2023

The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord (A)

​Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 | 2 Peter 1:16-19 | Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9 | Matthew 17:1-9

Before refrigerators, people stored ice in caves and pits to preserve their food. In winter, when lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the Morris Ice Company in Philadelphia, and covered with sawdust. One man lost a valuable watch while working in an ice house. He searched for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. Others also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice house during the noon hour and soon emerged with the missing time piece. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. “I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.” 

As the child in the story heard the clock ticking and found the time piece, we must hear the words of Jesus to find him. In the gospel for today’s feast, Jesus takes some of his friends away from the business of the village and market place. He invites them to travel with him as he makes his way up the mountain. This is not unusual. We know from the gospels that Jesus often went off by himself to the mountains to pray. While they were there praying, something wild and wonderful happened. Jesus was transfigured; he was changed; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Imagine how surprised, shocked, and taken aback those with Jesus were. Once composed, Peter utters the famous words, "Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here." But more importantly than what was said, is what they heard; "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. LISTEN to him.” These words are as much meant for us today as they were for those who first heard them. In today’s world of disconnection, multi-tasking, and disturbance, the art of listening is very important. We live in a noisy world. It is difficult to find a quiet place with televisions, radios, horns, and the Internet’s endless talking, and now cell phones. The generation is on the move. Much time is given to doing and little to reflecting. God the Father calls us in our Gospel to be attentive to Jesus. Who are you listening to? 

God calls us to listen to Jesus, only Jesus, always Jesus. Sometimes without knowing it or even being aware of it, so many of us have not strayed away from strange voices, but rather we entertain them. They tickle our ears. They call to us through our televisions, on Facebook, on TikTok, on YouTube, and in the political arena, and we so often listen to them. We have Jesus who is most reliable than anyone else in this world. The word and message that Jesus speaks to us and offers is life-giving and life-changing. The words of Jesus nourish, nurture, and sustain us if we open our hearts and lives to hearing it. In order to be led by Jesus, we need to listen to his call and then be willing to follow where he leads. This all hinges on spending time to know the Lord who is always present in our lives, always available. We all need to have  intimacy with Him through prayer and study. For 9 months now, I am unable to see because of retina detachment and I observed that my sense of hearing has increased at a significant level. This is because people with absent or impaired vision use acoustic impressions much more, which is why their sense of hearing is better trained. Let us not be too overwhelmed and distracted by the beautiful things we see and say, "It is wonderful for us to be here," but rather  close our eyes in prayer to free us from distraction and begin listening to the words of Jesus. Listen, be transfigured, be transformed. 

Being attentive and actively listening  can sometimes be difficult when you're working at home. I sometimes lose focus and feel tempted to only half listen. One evening, my daughter, Jill wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her in school that day. She began hurriedly, 'Daddy, I want to tell you something and I'll tell you really fast.' Realizing her frustration, I answered, 'Chabebeng, you can tell me and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.' I'll never forget her answer: 'Then listen.' 

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