6th February Trinity 2017, Rise Up

6th February Trinity

The Transfiguration, (after Fra Angelico)

(5th Sunday before Easter)

Matthew 17: 1-13

After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James and led them together up a high mountain apart from the others.

There his appearance was transformed before them. His face shone bright as the sun, and his garments became white, shining bright as the light. And behold, there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, conversing in the spirit with Jesus.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be in this place. If you wish, I will build here three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them and suddenly they heard a voice from the cloud that said, “This is my son, whom I love. In him, I am revealed. Hear him.”

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces to the ground in awe and terror.

And Jesus approached them, and touching them said, “Rise, and do not fear.”

And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus.

The Baptism, Collot d' Herbois

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them: “Tell no one what you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

And the disciples asked him, “What is meant when the scribes say, ‘First Elijah must come again’?” He answered, “Elijah comes indeed, and prepares everything [restores all things]. But I say to you, Elijah has already come, and the people did not recognize him but rather have done to him whatever they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer much at their hands.”

Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

6th February Trinity (5th Sunday before Easter)

March 12, 2017

Matthew 17: 1-13

The view from the top of a hill raises our consciousness. It opens things up; we

Gruenewald, Face of Christ

can see more, see further, see the greater context.

In today's reading, we hear that the disciples are on a high mountain. There they are able to see greater things. In our lives, too, we can have such peak experiences. Through prayer and contemplation, we can do the often arduous inner climb to a higher view. We can begin to see more, see further. We may be able to view things in a greater context.

Like the disciples, we may even be able to see Him, shining in love like the sun. We may even be able to hear the voice of His Father, our Father, the voice of World Karma, telling us to listen to His Son.

What we can see of World Karma can fill us with terror. Yet Christ encourages all of us to climb the mountain, to pray and to contemplate with Him. 'Rise up', He says. 'Do not fear.' 

Visit our Website!