2nd Sunday of Lent March 16, 2014
One is lead up onto the mountain top to expand ones mind so as to open ones spirit. And it is necessary for ones mouth to be silenced so one can finally listen with ears and eyes. While one is listening one becomes open to an encounter with God’s design.
The Transfiguration was an event that stopped the apostles in their tracks, yet Peter’s human nature wanted to continue to speak. To be open one must stop talking and listen!
Anyone listening? Words do not have to be spoken for communication to take place. Remember our Christmas party when Fr. Liem asked us to move to a table with people who spoke another language. The people of this parish spoke loud and clear! We were not ready to be that open! Many of us were not ready to take ownership of our own closed spirit. Let’s cut out the bilingual Mass. What will happen at our St Patty’s party? “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Lets press on! Anyone heard of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370? The modern Boeing 777 passenger airplane with 239 people on board, that mysteriously disappeared over Viet Nam our Pastors home land. Fr. Liem what did your people do with that airplane?
I told my wife as soon as I heard what had happened to MH370 that it had been hijacked. Ask my wife for verification. Some might poo poo my assertion. That is OK. But how might have I arrived at that conclusion so quickly? Perhaps 42 years of watching the aviation system work and analyzing untold recorded voice and flight data. But I would say it was listening to the language that was not spoken that opened my ears.
Do not be fooled by modern day imagery!
People do not be fooled by the voice of modern day imagery designed to mislead, please and capture our focus! Rather be open and listen to the voice of the one whose sole purpose was to speak the truth!
On the final night of the parish’s Lenten mission, at the end of an eloquent sermon, the missionary said. “Stand up, those of you who want to go to heaven.” The whole congregation stood up. When they were once more seated, he paused and then said. “Now stand up, those who want to go to hell.”
An elderly man at the back of the church stood up, and the missionary said, “Do you really want to go to hell?” “No Father” replied the old man. But I didn’t like to see you standing there alone.”
This is my beloved Son – Listen to Him!
Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Stop talking – to Peter the symbolic head of the Church stop talking and listen to him! Could it be that we the people of St. Peter the Rock need to stop talking and start listening so as to discover God’s design for us?
Who is behind the Source of Our Vision?
The gift of Vision – Vision is leadership. If we are dissatisfied with leadership our scriptures today suggest we consider if we can define the vision we are looking for and who is the source of that vision? And perhaps we should reflect upon what is not spoken, yet spoken without saying a word. The Pope and even our own Archbishop have initiated a survey open to the people of the Church. I think the Holy Spirit wants them to listen! And I pray our Church will be lead by the Holy Spirit to listen to both what is written and what people do.
Perhaps a clue? “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Stop talking and listen! While one is listening one can encounter God’s design – one can begin to see the spoken and the unspoken!
Living Stones = Church:
We are one family, one body, we united in one Christ. This church is built of living stones and until the living stones become open to the spirit of Christ no bricks or mortar can build a church.
Put on your spiritual ears and listen to Him!