THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD (Feast) White

First Reading: Dan 7:9-10. 13-14; Psalm: 97 R. v. 1a. 9a; Second Reading: 2Pet 1:16-19; Gospel: Lk 9:28b-36

PRAYING

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

It was time for Jesus to go to Jerusalem to embrace his passion. But before he embarked on this journey, Jesus did something he never failed to do before making important decisions in his ministry. He never did anything without the approval of his Father. And so he went to the mountain to pray with Peter, James, and John. While Jesus was praying, Moses and Elijah appeared to him. They represented the law and the prophets which revealed that Jesus was the fulfilment of the law and the prophets. They spoke of Jesus’ impending passion and the voice of the Father from heaven revealed Jesus as the chosen Son of God who was to redeem the world.

In the transfiguration encounter Jesus taught his disciples of the need to consult God always in prayer before taking important steps in life. Jesus knew quite well that he was going to die and that the only way this would come about was the way of the cross. But this did not stop him from consulting with his Father in prayer. This was how important Jesus saw prayer. His entire life was guided by prayer. The divine encounter Jesus had on the mount of transfiguration ratified his mission and strengthened him for the impending passion to come.

If Jesus who knew his fate and could see the future prayed, this should tell us how important prayer should be to us who do not even know what the future holds for us. Do we finding prayer tiring or boring? This shouldn’t discourage us. They are part of the struggles that we necessarily have to encounter in prayer. The three disciples who accompanied Jesus to the mount of transfiguration had to bear the tiring experience of climbing the mountain. They were even heavy with sleep but tried to keep awake as they watched Jesus being transfigured. But at the end of it all, Peter wished they remained there to continually savour the whole experience. Let prayer guide every decision we make in life. And let us not give in to the struggles we encounter in prayer because it is a test we must pass to see the glory of God.      

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, we pray for the grace to always recognise that without you we cannot succeed. Amen.