Why is it, you must have asked, as I have,
that in many situations our evangelistic efforts are often fraught with
failure? ...
One main reason is that we don't look like the
Christ we are proclaiming.
The most effective preaching comes from those
who embody the things they are saying. They are their message.
Christians need to look like what they are
talking about. It is people who communicate primarily, not words or ideas.
Authenticity gets across.
Deep down inside people, what communicates now
is basically personal authenticity.'”
“Is Christ-likeness attainable?”
He concluded: “In our own strength it is
clearly not attainable but God has given us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us,
to change us from within ... God's way to make us like Christ is to fill us
with his Spirit.”
This phrase from the Gospel reading sticks
with me and came from the shadow of the clouds covering Peter, John,
James and Jesus. "This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to Him"
The Transfiguration shows us the two sides to
Jesus, His divinity as Son Of God and the future human suffering he is to face
as Son of Man as he leaves the mountain and sets his eyes resolutely
" like flint" on Jerusalem and the cross.
We see our first glimpse of The Cross and the
Resurrection.
Along the way to the cross, we will see
whether the disciples really do listen to Jesus.
Time and again throughout the Gospels we hear
that the disciples had a very difficult time listening to Jesus. Their human
condition always gets in the way.
The same thing applies to us. We have a very
difficult time listening to the contradiction of the resurrected Christ and the cross of Christ.
My prayer is :
Please God let me keep my
eyes focused on you and keep listening to you all my life even if you seem lost
in the clouds covering me from time to time.
Lyrics to
The Transfiguration
When he took the three disciples
to the mountainside to pray,
his countenance was modified, his clothing was aflame.
Two men appeared: Moses and Elijah came;
they were at his side.
The prophecy, the legislation spoke of whenever he would die.
Then there came a word
of what he should accomplish on the day.
Then Peter spoke, to make of them a tabernacle place.
A cloud appeared in glory as an accolade.
They fell on the ground.
A voice arrived, the voice of God,
the face of God, covered in a cloud.
What he said to them,
the voice of God: the most beloved son.
Consider what he says to you, consider what's to come.
The prophecy was put to death,
was put to death, and so will the Son.
And keep your word, disguise the vision till the time has come.
Lost in the cloud, a voice: Have no fear! We draw near!
Lost in the cloud, a sign: Son of man! Turn your ear!
Lost in the cloud, a voice: Lamb of God! We draw near!
Lost in the cloud, a sign: Son of man! Son of God!
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