A beautiful testimony I’ll never forget is one from a
husband and father who had to endure the distance between him and his family
while working abroad. Asked about where he draws his strength to continue
working despite the pressure from work in a foreign land and the gnawing
loneliness of being away from home, he had this for an answer: “When I’m down
and pressured, when I’m restless and lonely, when I’m disturbingly tempted,
when I feel like giving up, I look at the picture of my lovely wife and son.
Then I’m brought back to that beautiful memory when my son was born: I cuddled
him in my arms very gently giving me for the first time the joy of being a
father, then I handed him to my wife still lying on bed teary eyed. Seeing both
of them together, I couldn't help but cry for joy because for the first time in
my life, I felt what it meant to live with so much love and sense of purpose.
From that moment on, I gained strength and confidence that see me through all
the trials in life.”
Beautiful memories are promises of the enduring beauty of
life even when it gets rough and tough.
In the spiritual life, beautiful experiences with God can
see us through the darkness of desolation when it comes and sometimes lingers.
Only much later as a priest have I really appreciated what
my spiritual director years ago would have me do. He would help me articulate my uplifting
encounters with God in prayer and in life. He would ask me to celebrate the joy
of those intimate communions. He would tell me again and again to “relish and savor...
relish and savor... stay there... take your time...” savor the love of
God. Because there will come a time, he
would continue to remind me, that you will be in desolation-- when God is
silent in times of your suffering, when life is dark and stormy. On these trying times, the beautiful memories
of God’s love are your only source of strength and the assurance that in time everything
will turn out fine.
Today’s gospel account of the transfiguration event (Lk
9:28b-36) describes the beautiful experience of Jesus and of some of his
disciples on the mountain: While Jesus was praying, His face changed in
appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. Two men, Moses and Elijah,
appeared in glory conversing with him. Peter and his companions saw his glory.
A cloud overshadowed them and a voice was heard: “This is my chosen Son; listen
to him.”
This event of the transfiguration happened right after the
Lord had predicted his passion and death. Hence, this is meant to provide the
disciples that needed beautiful experience and memory of the glory of Jesus the
Lord. This beautiful memory will serve as their source of their strength and
confidence when the hour of Jesus’ suffering comes. This beautiful experience
is the promise of the Easter glory even as they all go through the fearful disorientation
and insecurities set off by the passion and death of Jesus, the Christ, in
Calvary.
As we journey on more deeply into the season of Lent, we are
now being prepared for the contemplation of the suffering of Christ on account of
the sin of the world. It is good for us, fainthearted people as we are, to be
reassured of the eventual glorification of Jesus in Easter. While we delve into
the mystery of the darkness and destructiveness of our sins, we are reminded
all along of the illuminating and creative power of God’s grace. This and not sin has the last say.
So, where do we draw strength when we are down and out? What
gives us confidence to continue at times when life seems to be just a gruelling battle of uncertainties and even of suffering? When our sinfulness brings us
into a frightening spiritual darkness, what gives us hope that allows us to
move on and reach out to God like the one who rushes towards the beckoning
light at the end of a long and dark tunnel?
Our reflection today points us to the importance of
relishing and keeping alive our beautiful experiences of God in life and in our
prayer. Is there a moment we can go back to when we have experienced that great
joy of being loved by God? We need to relish these beautiful moments. Relishing these joyful moments is vital to our
discipleship because following Christ entails carrying his cross. With what
strength will we walk to Calvary, if not with the Easter confidence given us by
the beautiful memory of God’s faithful love?
Lord, how have you
loved me? Allow me to savour every bit of the joy of being loved by you. And
may this give me the confidence with which I shall face the Calvary of my life.
Amen.
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