By Sara Knutson, assistant director of Campus Ministry
I can really relate to Peter and his friends in this week’s scripture passage (Luke 9:28-36). Their willing hearts, their exhaustion and especially their uncertainty about how to respond to this powerful experience of seeing Jesus in his true glory during the transfiguration.
In this story, Peter thinks he’s just hiking up the mountain for some prayer time. He’s up for the task, even though he falls asleep halfway through. He wakes up to a shocking, frightening, wondrous experience of seeing Jesus in a more clearly divine way. Grasping for a response, he makes a suggestion, but even he did not know what he was saying.
Transfiguration, Donald Jackson with contributions from Aidan Hart, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
I’ve been there too—and I don’t just mean the part about falling asleep while praying—though I’ve done that, too. I’ve talked to Jesus in prayer about relationships or challenges in my life that are frustrating or perplexing. I can sense his presence with me, but what should I do? I might try some course of action, but it doesn’t help. Now what? How do I discern what I should do next?
What’s reassuring for me in this passage is that Jesus is not upset or exasperated by Peter’s response. He listens. And then the voice of God tells Peter what he should do, declaring of Jesus, “This is my chosen Son. Listen to him.”
The beginning of Lent is a fresh opportunity to place our problems, temptations, sins and hopes at the feet of Jesus. This includes all those things for which we feel we lack a proper response. We can try new approaches, knowing God rejoices in our efforts to do good deeds—even if they don’t bear fruit.
And most of all, we can listen to Jesus, and then be open to where his response moves us.
May your spring break be full of rejuvenation, joy and deeper awareness of God listening to you and laboring for you!