The Gospel as a Journey of the Soul

The Transfiguration of Jesus

In the Prayer Aids section of this blog is a page on Rosary Prayers for Seven Days of the week. Because the traditional sets of Rosary mysteries simply do not divide evenly into seven, I put together some additional sets of mysteries. For Wednesdays, it is the Incarnate Mysteries – from the ministry of Christ:

1. The Baptism of Jesus
2. The Healing Miracles of Jesus
3. The Teaching of Jesus
4. The Transfiguration of Jesus
5. The Road to Jerusalem

As I was praying throught these mysteries this morning, I begin picturing myself in the presence of Jesus during these life events of His.  I discovered that it is indeed a Journey of the Soul from Baptism to mature Self-offering.

Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.

With the crowd around John at the Jordan, I am next in line behind this Jesus from Nazareth. He comes up out of the water, great drops of it pouring from His brows, His garments, and He steps to the shore and raises His eyes to heaven to pray. At that same moment, I turn to John. The Baptizer asks me if I repent and turn from my sins. I am about to answer when I see a strange peacefulness come over the face of Jesus, as if He is seeing something, hearing something, important to Him. And then the Voice surrounds me: “This is my Son . . . the Beloved . . .” Afterwards, some said it was thunder, or the wind. But I know what I heard. And suddenly I know what John is about to do to me will be more than a recommitment to a holy life. It will be a transformation to a New Life. “Yes,” I said simply, and John lowers me below the surface. When I come up out of the water, Jesus is walking along the bank of the Jordan, and some begin to follow Him. And, suddenly, I am  following Him, too.

The Healing Miracles (John 9:6-7)
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

I am sitting on the ground, in the dust, in the heat of the day, as I hear a great crowd approaching. I am blind, hoping to beg a few coins here at the gate. But few people help – “He is a sinner,” they say, “Else why would he be cursed with blindness?” And they pass by. But the crowd pauses, and a man kneels beside me in the dust. “It is Jesus, the Teacher,” someone whispers in my ear. And then, in harsh tones warns me, “Do not trouble him!” I say nothing, but this Jesus gently touches the palms of His hands to my face, fingers spread, holding my head in a loving embrace, and I can feel power and peace coming from Him. I hear Him spit! He has spit on the ground, and removes one hand to sir the dust with a finger. And then the warm dampness, as He spreads this mud on my eyelids. And then His first and only words, “Go, and wash.” And so I do, and the darkness departs from me, and I see. Was I healed from my blindness, or my sinfulness? I don’t know. All I know is that as I had been blind, now I see.

The Teaching Ministry (Matthew 5:14-16)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Baptized and cleansed, I follow Jesus to a hill above the Sea of Galilee, and sit nearby Him as He begins to teach. There are dozens sitting or standing near, listening to His words. He is speaking to them all, but the sound of His voice enters into my heart as if He is speaking to me alone. I feel His piercing eyes looking into me soul, even when His gaze is elsewhere in the crowd. “You are the salt of the earth,” He says . . . never before had I been so lovingly affirmed by such a holiness. Never before had I understood how completely God loves me. But now I understand also that a command comes with that love: “You are the light of the world, you must let that Light shine upon others.” It is not a command to be obeyed in order to receive the Love. It is a Love freely given that enables a response to the command. What a strange journey this is turning out to be. I make up my mind to follow Him throughout this beautiful Galilee, as He heals and teaches.

The Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-5)
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

Atop Mount Hermon we are standing with Jesus: Peter, and James and John, and me. Suddenly the light changes, as a bright cloud washes over the mountain from the west, off the distant sea. And in the strange light, Jesus is transformed before us. Not physically, but in spirit. There is a bright shimmer of light about Him, and He seems to become brilliantly alive in a new way. In the halo, two other figures appear, standing near Jesus, conversing with Him. “Moses,” Peter whispers. “And Elijah,” says John. The Law and the Prophets, the totality of Hebrew spiritual Authority. They speak together. Though I cannot hear their words, they stand as in agreement. We did not know it then, but soon Jesus would give us their words, as the “Great Commandment”:

“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22)

Peter wants us to construct three shelters for them, that we may dwell together on this mountaintop. But the moment is over as quickly as it began. Moses and Elijah have gone. Jesus no longer radiates that bright aura. But there remains a light in His face, though shadow now haunts His eyes as He leads us back down the slopes.

“Do not tell anyone about this, yet,” He says, “for we have much to do first.”

I would not be able to speak of this just now, in any case, for I am puzzled and awed by the transfiguration that seems to have come over my spirit also. I am changed, strengthened, empowered, encouraged. But for what, I do not know.

5. The Road to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51,57-62)
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem . . .
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

The Road to Jerusalem

We are walking the long road from Galilee to Jerusalem, and I am learning about the cost of discipleship. He walks quickly, His face set southward, as if He can see ahead into a distance yet invisible to us. We have not understood His words about His persecution and death. But His words to us about our discipleship are clear: there is to be no turning back, now that we have set out upon this road. Now I understand the purpose of the Transfiguration, a gift from God to strengthen Jesus, and me, for this journey to Jerusalem, for this ultimate commitment to God. What lies in wait at the end of this road? Persecution, apparently, before Peace. Terror before Truth. I suspected that morning at the Jordan that following Him would not be easy. I did not imagine that it might be hard. Very hard. The road is dusty and dry as we pass through the Samaritan villages. But no one comes out to offer us a cup of cold water. Because they see we are intent upon Jerusalem, and the dwelling-place of God.

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Called to follow Jesus, Healed by His touch, Instructed by His Words, Changed by His Presence, and Challenged by the Road He walks.

His road becomes my own road, His story the Journey of my soul. It is what the Gospel does to you, if you have ears with which to hear.

~ Will, ObJN