The Second Sunday of Lent - March 4, 2012
Mark 9:2 - 6
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
Peter wanted to build a memorial to commemorate the place and experience of Jesus' transfiguration.
The human tendency is to freeze-frame significant experiences, take a picture of them or build a monument to them, and then try to replicate the experience in other times and settings . . . or constantly pull the picture out of our pocket to remind ourselves of what once was . . . or continually revisit the monument for re-live the significant moment.
We sometimes do this by "telling our stories," which include the repetition (and sometimes exaggeration) of these significant events.
It is important to have markers of important life-experiences. They remind us of times we were particularly aware of the presence of God.
But it is also important to let them go . . . to notice them, give thanks for them, and let them go. No replicating the event, no pictures, no monuments, no embellishing . . . just letting it go so we can be ready for the next significant event.
This is consistent with methods of contemplative prayer and meditation, in which you notice what arises within you and then let it go . . . notice and let go . . . notice and let go . . . over and over in the period of prayer. This movement is at the heart of the contemplative practice known as Centering Prayer.
Take no pictures. Hold onto no event. Build no monuments. Just notice, give thanks, and get ready for the next moment.
Meister Eckhart, 13th century Christian mystic, said that God always desires to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.
For today . . . think of some landmark experiences in your life . . . spiritually, relationally, vocationally, and so on. In what ways do you measure all other experiences against those? How do those experiences continue to shape you? Talk with God honestly about those experiences, and listen to what God speaks into your heart.
Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.
Peter wanted to build a memorial to commemorate the place and experience of Jesus' transfiguration.
The human tendency is to freeze-frame significant experiences, take a picture of them or build a monument to them, and then try to replicate the experience in other times and settings . . . or constantly pull the picture out of our pocket to remind ourselves of what once was . . . or continually revisit the monument for re-live the significant moment.
We sometimes do this by "telling our stories," which include the repetition (and sometimes exaggeration) of these significant events.
It is important to have markers of important life-experiences. They remind us of times we were particularly aware of the presence of God.
But it is also important to let them go . . . to notice them, give thanks for them, and let them go. No replicating the event, no pictures, no monuments, no embellishing . . . just letting it go so we can be ready for the next significant event.
This is consistent with methods of contemplative prayer and meditation, in which you notice what arises within you and then let it go . . . notice and let go . . . notice and let go . . . over and over in the period of prayer. This movement is at the heart of the contemplative practice known as Centering Prayer.
Take no pictures. Hold onto no event. Build no monuments. Just notice, give thanks, and get ready for the next moment.
Meister Eckhart, 13th century Christian mystic, said that God always desires to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.
For today . . . think of some landmark experiences in your life . . . spiritually, relationally, vocationally, and so on. In what ways do you measure all other experiences against those? How do those experiences continue to shape you? Talk with God honestly about those experiences, and listen to what God speaks into your heart.
Comments
Post a Comment