The Second Sunday of Lent: Listen
Stepping out of Ourselves
“Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray.” Up the mountain, away from the crowds, towards the silence, into the vast wilderness. What a fitting image, that Jesus climbs a mountain to be with his Father in prayer. To climb a mountain is to step out of ourselves. Against all human desires for comfort and control, we step into the mercy of a boundless place.
There is a sense of Jesus slowly shedding off the noise of the world the further he ascends, voices that would crown him king or brand him a criminal. It is only until I am before the Lord that I become aware of the burdens silently accumulated from daily living – anxiety over how much more I ‘should’ be studying, urgency over the people I ‘need’ to be meeting, and so on. Under his gaze, my obsessions slowly loosen and fall away, until I am left, naked before the One who made me.
In the Gospel, as Jesus prays, “the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white”. At last, the veil over his splendour is lifted, and the disciples finally behold him as he truly is. All the labour of climbing, just for Jesus to be. On the mountain, there is no one for Jesus to heal, to preach to, to forgive. There is nothing to detract from the fullness of truth revealed by pure love – “This is my Son, my Chosen.”
The same is true for us – in prayer, we become truly who we already are – beloved son, beloved daughter.
Prayer: An Act of Listening
I’ve found in my own life a wonderful simplicity to being the beloved. Prayer is little more than holding a precious space in my heart to listen for the voice of Love. In the whirlwind of classes and chatter, a moment’s breather is enough for me to cast my gaze to the Lord. Lingering is the language of lovers, and this space flourishes when I lose track of time before the Blessed Sacrament. A listening heart resists the temptation to fill this space, but waits patiently for God’s whisper of love. In these simple ways, each moment becomes a chance to “listen to him”, to remain in his love.
For those of us who feel ‘seasoned’ when it comes to prayer, the disciples serve us a warning. Heavy with sleep, they almost miss the glory of the Transfiguration. Where have we slowly fallen asleep to the presence of God in our own lives? Perhaps we have lost sight of God behind everyday miracles taken for granted, or reduced prayer to a joyless routine sustained half-heartedly. Or maybe we have become too used to an area of brokenness in our lives that we have stopped asking God for healing. With Jesus, even the ordinary belies an invitation to enter into a deeper mystery of grace and salvation. This Lent is the time to once again awaken our hearts, to notice the little signs of grace everywhere around us.
I found the last line of the Gospel strikingly hopeful – hearing the voice of God, the disciples “kept silent… and told no one any of the things they had seen”. They cannot forget what they have witnessed on the mountain, yet God’s word is so definitive that there is nothing left to say in response, only to ponder. Prayer gives birth to souls of silence. We mature in our discipleship when God’s revelations become more than mere spectacles, but continual sources of contemplation and conversion held in the depths of our being. As we descend the mountain back into the bustle of life, we carry God’s lingering gift with us – the deeper reality of his voice of Love.
Reflection Questions
What are the noises in my life that prevent me from hearing God’s voice?
Where has God been speaking to me in my daily life?
How can I be more attentive to God this Lent?
Spend five minutes in silence, listening out for the voice of God. If any distractions arise, gently set them aside and return your focus to the Lord. After these five minutes, write down one line of truth you have received from this time.
Invitation of the Week (Choose whichever options speak to you!)
Spend your commute in silence. Let God meet you in this simplicity, and may it lead you into prayer, stillness and reflection.
Take a walk in nature, without your phone if possible. Invite Jesus to join you, and just enjoy his presence and be open to how he speaks to you in this time.
Pray the Examen daily for a week. Begin to notice where God is present in the ordinary each day. Here’s how:
Look back on your day in the company of the Holy Spirit and ask God for clarity and understanding.
Review the day with gratitude. What are you thankful for?
Be attentive to your feelings. What emotions have arose throughout the day?
Reflect on a particular/important moment. Review it, and bring it to God in prayer.
Pray for tomorrow. What is one grace you want to ask God for?