Transformation to a More Excellent Way

Prayer-Soldier

Transformation to a More Excellent Way

Scripture:

And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of your country, and from your kindred, and out of the house of your father, and come into the land which I shall show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and magnify your name, and you shall be blessed. I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you, and in you shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. So Abram went out as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went with him.
(Genesis 12:1-4)

Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labor with the gospel, according to the power of God who has delivered us and called us by his holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world: But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has destroyed death and has brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel.
(2 Timothy 1:8-10)

And after six days Jesus took unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart: and he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear him. And the disciples hearing fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them: Arise, and fear not. And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead. (Matthew 17:1-9)

Reflection:

As we live, day by day, we have the opportunity to look forward as well as back. As we look forward, we consider what we want to happen. As we look back, we consider what we have done. When we look forward, it is about something which is still yet to come, where our choices and directions have opportunity to change. As we look back, it is about something already written in time which cannot be changed or undone.

The future is open, the past is closed, but as we consider their threads, the past reveals a course which allows us to evaluate the aim of our future. No one is immune from bad choices. We convince ourselves that we try to make the best decisions we can with the information available to us at the time, but we often forget the influence of the criteria we use by which to make our choice. As we look to the past, the consequences of what we do and what we fail to do are no longer academic, but in the moment of our choice, we often fail to consider the full consequences to our future as well as that of others.

If we examine the consequences of our choices, we have opportunity to learn lessons, but if we only look to our own experience and incomplete or flawed logic, we limit the quality of our choices and often continue in behaviors where we do not consider the full range or ripples of the outcomes. Still, over time, as we continue to experience the fruits of our choices, good or bad, and observe the impacts on those who surround us, we learn to refine what we choose to do or not do.

There are choices, though, where we do not have the opportunity for trial and error by which to refine ourselves. To what, then, do we look so we enable the right choice and do not become victim of the wrong selection? We must look to someone we trust and who knows what is on the other side of what we choose.

As Jesus stood with Moses and Elijah; Peter, James, and John had an opportunity to observe Christ transformed to reveal His divinity. They were amazed, but did not fully comprehend what they were witnessing as allowed by God; not the god of the dead, but the God of the living. (cf. Matthew 22:32) To reinforce the importance of what they were allowed to see, the voice from heaven told them, ?This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear him.?

Why is what the Word made flesh instructs important to us? (cf. John 1:14) The answer is that what He teaches helps us to comprehend the path of justice which leads us to His kingdom. He is the Light which is the Truth which overcomes the deceptions of the darkness. (cf. John 1:5) His wisdom guides us in the ways by which we may turn away from that which yields harm so we may turn to that which brings God's kingdom of love to our existence. As we come to Him, as we demonstrate our belief in Him through living what He teaches, we make the choices which will yield the decision, as to the place of our eternity. Let us, then, consider carefully what He teaches and to what He calls us. Let us allow Him to transform us from our ways to His ways and all the blessings we may receive through living the fullness of faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways does God call us to grow to become a better person?

In what ways do the challenges we face strengthen us?

In what ways will living the Word of God transform us?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier