Experiencing the Mountain Top
GREAT IS YOUR FAITH!
August 5, 2020
PRAYER 101
August 6, 2020PITIK-BULAG: Experiencing the Mountain Top
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The gospel today speaks of the necessity of having a prayer life deeply rooted in listening to God rather than speaking to God. We tend to understand prayer as talking to the Lord and bringing all our prayer intentions. We spend less time listening to His words and speaks more. We are more concerned about what’s in our hearts and what we desire, and not really on what’s in the heart of God and His desire. In the end, even though we spend some quiet moments with the Lord regularly, we ended up God listening to us, and not us listening to the Lord. Our prayer becomes a selfish spiritual devotion that caters to our needs and not fulfilling the will of God. So, ask yourself, “Am I a LISTENER and SEEKER OF GOD’S WILL in my prayer, or a TALKER and a BEGGAR OF WHAT I WANT TO THE LORD?”
In this pandemic crisis, what we need mot is HAVE A DAILY MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE OF GOD to cope with our daily struggles and challenges. The gospel reading emphasizes the IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING IN OUR PRAYER. There are only two instances in the four gospels where Jesus showed great intimacy and listening to the Father: In Mount Tabor and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Both are life-defining and sets a direction towards fulfilling the will of God. Somehow, we are also invited by our Lord to visit our mountain tops (prayer moments) to listen to God and pray for the gift of courage to do His will.
Consider the following points for your reflection.
1. REST DAY IS PRAYER DAY.
“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.” (Matthew 17:1).
The gospel begins with “Six days later ….” It reminds us of God resting after six days of work. Rest is very important, not only to allow our body to recover from stress and energized but to commune with God and to listen to Him. LISTENING GIVES RIGHT DIRECTION AND GOAL TO TAKE.
2. BE A CONTEMPLATIVE IN ACTION.
“Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” (Matthew 17: 3-4)
The appearance of both Moses and Elijah is significant. Moses represents the law, while Elijah represents the prophets. Like Moses and Elijah, we are both invited by God to be a man of prayer and action. Paul said, “Faith without action is dead.” When Peter volunteered to make three tents, he failed the see the necessity of leaving the mountain to fulfill God’s will. LISTENING SHOULD LEAD US TO ACTION, AND OUR ACTION SHOULD LEAD US BACK TO OUR MOUNT TABOR.
3. PRAYER IS LISTENING.
“While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud, a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him, I am well pleased; listen to him!’” (Matthew 17:5).
“Listen to Him.” The invitation to listen to Jesus summarizes the meaning of discipleship. In listening to our Lord, we transform or transfigured ourselves to God’s image. The more we intimately listen to Jesus, the more we become like Him. His mind and heart become ours. We are drawn to speak and act like Him. The disciples becoming like their master. And we become the beloved sons and daughters of God too. The transfiguration of our hearts and minds do happen only in listening.
4. IN LISTENING, WE ARE CONSOLED.
“But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.'” (Matthew 17:7).
Prayerful moments with the Lord bring consolation to our hearts. People who are well-grounded in his or her prayer finds inner strength in prayer. They are not easy prey of anxiety, fear, and doubts. They are miracle workers, the presence of God, and the source of inspiration. Because they constantly COMING TO THEM, TOUCHING THEM, AND TOUCHING THEM, SAYING, “GET UP AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.”
– Pitik-Bulag
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August 6, 2020 – Feast of the Transfiguration
