Peter was not sure how to respond to Jesus’ Transfiguration. Noah Banasiewicz, SJ, reflects on how Lent is a time to look at Jesus and listen to him. You can find the readings here.
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Hi, I’m Noah Banasiewicz, and this is my One-Minute Reflection.
When it comes to prayer, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and confusion of big moments. Powerful experiences can feel like signs from God, like proof that we should or shouldn’t do something. Big swings in our emotions can be overwhelming, leaving us feeling lost and unsure.
In today’s Gospel, we hear about a similar experience. After witnessing the Transfiguration of Jesus, Saint Peter is terrified and hardly knows what to say. In the midst of his confusion, Peter says, “It is good that we are here!” and decides they should build tents.
Peter’s intentions are good, but God extends a different invitation. He doesn’t ask the disciples to do anything extreme, He doesn’t even ask them to share their experience with anyone. His invitation is simple: to look at Christ and to listen to him.
Perhaps we can take this as our own invitation for the rest of Lent. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are good things, but they are not things we simply do. How might these serve as tools, helping us to look at Jesus and to listen to him more intently?
