Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18/Phil 3:17—4:1 or 3:20—4:1/Lk 9:28b-36
Jesus went up the mountain to pray. We might look at that sentence as merely giving us the setting for the Transfiguration. But, let’s not lose sight that the Transfiguration happens when Jesus goes away from the crowd to pray.
Prayer is one of the disciplines of Lent. Private, personal prayer is the necessary backbone of ministry. Through prayer, we open our hearts to the mind of God. We listen for the voice of God in order to transform our attitudes and actions to align with God’s will rather than our own. We need to encourage everyone, no matter how busy, to carve out a time and place for daily prayer. There is no one formula or design. The secret is consistency.
Public, communal prayer is also essential. Prayer, whether private or communal, is spending time with God. When we gather with a community of believers, we encounter God. God speaks to us as a community and as individuals. Every word, every ritual action, every gesture and posture have the potential to teach us something that God wants us to learn. The music, the environment, the people can all enhance the message of the moment. We are listening to God together as the People of God. During Lent, we are examining our relationships and looking toward the recommitment of our discipleship at the Easter Vigil. We pray with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
