Jesus only (Mt 17:1-13)

Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Psalm 128; Matthew 17:1-13


"Listen to him." (Matthew 17:5)

Robert shared some really good things in his sermon on this text this past Sunday, including encouraging us to deal with the things that may be getting in the way of our following Jesus, of our living out the will of God. Lent is a good time to focus on such things (of course "today" is the best day to deal with anything getting in the way of our relationship with God! But Lent gives us a focused time, in a community of Christ-followers, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus).

The Father's voice from heaven interrupts Peter and repeats his words from Jesus' baptism affirming his beloved Son Jesus, and of course, adding the additional command "listen to him." This would be one of my goals for Lent. To learn anew to listen to Jesus. To be more focused on hearing him speak to my heart. To set aside the time daily to really listen, like we talked about last Wednesday night - not just read intellectually, or for study, but also to read contemplatively (Lectio Divina, or "divine reading").

I appreciated Robert pointing out that while the disciples were terrified,
"Jesus came and touched them, saying, 'Rise, and have no fear.' And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only" (vs. 7-8).

To listen to him, and to, in effect, see no one but him - this is another way to describe the goal of this season of Lent.
> That we would so "abide" in him (John 15) that we would hear him and see him every day and in every situation.
> That all the varied distractions in our lives, so many of them self-inflicted, would not drown out his voice or block our view - and so embrace the spiritual disciplines that will help minimize or eliminate those distractions (you know what yours are - at least some of the biggest ones).
> And that in the midst of our fear, even of listening to him for fear of what we might hear, we would know his presence, his touch, and indeed hear and listen to his voice and "have no fear" and find again that he is with us and for us.