Peter, James and John are privileged to witness Jesus revealed in all his glory. ”His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light.” (Matthew 17:2. The Message)
Jesus’ hidden divinity is made apparent. He is no longer merely their teacher
or prophet, and the disciples glimpse who he really is. They stand in awe.
For some reason, as I was preparing this reflection, I remembered this quote from Fr Gregory Boyle SJ, “Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it.” (Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion)
For me, there is a link between standing in awe of God and wholeheartedly responding to God’s call. It seems that when I glimpse God in all God’s mystery, divinity, humanity, glory, I begin to see clearly. The world seems different, I am transformed, and my vocation becomes a natural and willing participation in God’s work.
It is easy to be in awe of God when we witness beauty in nature, in new life, in
kindness and generosity around us. It becomes much more difficult to be in awe and wonder of God in the mess of the world. And that’s where Greg Boyle SJ challenges us. Greg founded Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention programme in Los Angeles, over 30 years ago. If we read his books, listen to his sermons, and watch recordings of
interviews, we cannot help but stand in awe of how God is present and at work among gang members, many of whom we would consider hopeless and lost.
God reveals glimpses of his divinity to all of us. Have I noticed and can I recall such a moment?
How can I become more present to the Presence of God in the messiness of the world and the places I least expect to find God?
