Listen To Him

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.

While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. (Luke 9:28-36)

Next time the sky is cloudy (seems all the time during winter on Cape Cod), let’s listen.  I don’t mean for crashing waves or boughs breaking from heavy snow.  I mean the voice of God telling us to listen to Jesus. He might say to all of us overcome by sleep to wake up!  Many of us sleepwalk through our faith with half-hearted devotion. 

Jesus might say don’t listen to lies.  They come from the Deceiver who often is disguised with a clean-shaven, well-dressed appearance and sitting before us on cable news shows.  They come from social media pretending to be informative, but only spreading mis- and disinformation. Consider what is happening in Russia at this time and Putin’s shut down of any internal criticism of his naked aggression in the Ukraine.  He has taken on the role of an antichrist.

According to NBC News (March 9), “On Friday, the Kremlin made it a crime punishable by 15 years in prison to spread "fake news" or to even describe the Ukraine invasion as a “war.” It has forced two of its last remaining independent news broadcasters, TV Rain and Echo Moscow, to go off the air. CNN and the BBC have stopped broadcasting, and The New York Times announced Tuesday that it was pulling its staff out of Moscow. More than 150 Russian journalists have fled the country, according to the Russian investigative news website Agentsvo. More than 13,500 protesters who have dared to take to the streets have been arrested, according to the independent human rights group OVD-Info. Social media video shows riot police beating demonstrators and dragging them along the ground.”  

This is authoritarianism that should repel all Americans, but it doesn’t!  That’s astounding! These are Catholics and many other citizens of different or no faith who support leaders with heavy fists and loud mouths, and who promote insurrection.

Listen to Jesus is what God exclaims!  Those of us with ears must hear.

Deacon David Pierce