Transformed in Christ

From the Catholic Liturgy for the Transfiguration of Jesus, August 6, 2017.  Mt 17:19. Personal Transformation in Christ.

The disciples who formed Jesus' inner circle - Peter, James the Greater and his brother, John - were privileged to catch a glimpse of Jesus in his Transfiguration as He would be for all eternity after his Resurrection: dazzling, glorious, majestic. And at the same time the three disciples heard the Father's approving voice proclaiming, "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him."

Did you know that God the Father wants to do much the same thing for you and me? Did you know He wants to transform us into the image of his Son and say to us what he said the Jesus: "You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." It's absolutely true! this is the message of the Gospel. It is the message of the Church. It is the message of the saints. It is the reason why Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit working in us through prayer, through reflection on his Word and through the sacraments.

If we want to become like Jesus then we simply have to follow the advice of God the Father and listen to him. And we can only so this is we make time, take time, to be with Jesus in prayerful reading reflection on the Gospels. Then in quiet prayer listen for the answer which may come as an idea popping into your mind or silent words speaking to your heart.

And if possible, in addition try to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in every Catholic church. Stay there before him like Peter, James and John did at the Transfiguration.  I think that once you begin this personal custom of spending time before Jesus in the tabernacle you will soon come to say what Peter said to Jesus in today's Gospel: "Lord, it is so good that we are here."

The saints tell us that in addition to pondering the Gospels and visiting the Blessed Sacrament, there is a third powerful way of being transformed into reflections of Jesus: entrusting ourselves to care of Mary, Mother of Christ and of Christians. It is her role as spiritual mother of the family of God to form us, to lead us, to help us become very much like Jesus her Son, our Brother. 

We should ask for three special graces in order to be transformed: First, that we see and admit our powerlessness to selfishness and sin. We cannot change, we cannot be transformed, unless we first see what's wrong.  Second, we need real faith to truly believe that God the Father wants to transform us into images of his Beloved Son and has promised to do so. And lastly, we have to make a gut honest prayer from the heart by which we truly turn our lives and our wills over to the loving care of God, with trust and confidence in mercy.