18 February 2017 - seen and unseen

[ Today's Readings ]

And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

The LORD gives experience to fuel our faith. He reveals himself so that we are able to trust him when times get tough.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

At times of consolation that idea of the cross is hard to understand. But when the cross comes consolations can enable us to walk by faith and not by sight (see Second Corinthians 5:7).

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.

Righteousness comes through faith if we persevere. We need to be able to trust in God even in difficult times, to continue to "believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." It is easy to doubt either or both of these at the cross. That is why we must treasure the consolations he gives us. Then we can draw strength from them when the sky is darkest. Even if we turn and run the consolations help us to come back and receive mercy because they remind us who Jesus is.

Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works. 

So let us rejoice in the blazing radiance of the transfigured Christ. He conveys grace as we read about the transfiguration in scripture. He wants us to be on the watch for areas where his brightness shines in our own lives today. He wants this because he wants us to know him more and more.

Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
then from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, the disciples no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.