Repost: Who was transfigured?

Sr. Dorcee, belovedLeave a comment

When one thinks of the Transfiguration one usually thinks of Christ being transfigured–almost like Christ turning on a light bulb.  But there is a valid line of thinking in the Eastern Church that goes like this: “In a certain way it was really the apostles who were transfigured; it was they who became able to see.”  It wasn’t so much Christ whose glory changed; the apostles were just allowed to see Him as He truly is.  Christ opened their eyes so that they could see Him in all His glory.

And that’s the point of the Christian life, to have our eyes opened to the Mystery of God.  To constantly surrender ourselves to His grace, that the eyes of our hearts may be transfigured and more and more able to perceive the beauty and glory of our God.

Be not afraid!

Sr. Dorcee, beloved1 Comment

Witnesses to Hope is close to its 1000th post.  This is the first post I ever put up.  I think the reasons are obvious.

POPE EMBRACES CHILD DURING AUDIENCE

 

BE NOT AFRAID! (John Paul II, October 16, 1978 and many, many times afterward . . .)

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his son, Jesus.” (WYD 2002, Toronto)

When life feels a bit much

Sr. Dorcee, beloved2 Comments

I have been thinking of this Elizabeth of the Trinity quote a lot the last couple of days, so I thought I would repost this piece from a few years ago.  It’s still relevant:

I haven’t posted in the past two days because life has been full of more important things.  As many of you know, we run two Emmanuel Houses: homes for older adults who are no longer capable of living alone and have limited support and no resources.  This week three of the residents have been in the hospital and one at home passed on to be with the Lord.  Two of our Sisters who work there are on vacation.  It’s times like these when life can feel like it’s a bit too much.  Yet we know that all is in God’s Providence.  I meditate often on these words from Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity: “Everything that happens is for me a message of the excessive love of God for my soul.”  And as Amy Carmichael would say: “Everything means everything.”

I love thinking about the words: “excessive love.”  Wow.

Never oneself

Sr. Dorcee, beloved1 Comment

Adrienne von Speyr has something insightful to offer regarding prayer and contemplation:

Whoever wishes to accommodate oneself to a new, living relationship to the Lord should consider that the Lord always spent a great deal of time reflecting upon the Father, but none in reflecting upon himself.  The object of contemplation is always God, never oneself.

I would propose that we would gain what we really seek in prayer if we followed this advice.