We mirror the gaze we encounter in prayer.
We invite you to enter the story with us of Jesus’s encounter and transfiguration as witnessed by his close followers.
These few lines of text depict an encounter beyond easy explanations and descriptions. And so we can humbly place ourselves before this text and notice how the living Spirit brings the living Word into our hearts, our minds, our bodies. We can notice the way the Trinity invites us into relational encounter and sense if we want to linger there a bit longer. Maybe we don’t have words. Maybe we want to color our experience and give it expression. Maybe some poetry forms within you. Or you notice the way your body is basking in all this glory. Or the way your whole body is reacting to this glory. Sense if it is possible to stay gently present to your experience.
May we be held in the tenderness of Jesus, as the Helper helps us become more deeply aware of God and the sound of the voice of Jesus. Amen.
Luke 9:28-36 RSV
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli′jah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli′jah”—not knowing what he said.
As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”
And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
For Reflection and Prayer:
Was there a word, a phrase, image, or feeling that ‘shimmered’ as you listened? Allow it to land in your heart. Stay with it. Savor it.
Reflect on what you heard. What effect does it have on you? What meaning does it hold for you? What does the Holy Spirit seem to be conveying to you? Talk it over in your prayer.
Perhaps you want to draw or color your prayer or journal the conversation.
As the time of prayer comes to a close, share some moments of quiet with Jesus, simply resting safely in his presence.
