A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Luke 9:35

We’ve all experienced those, “You had to be there, to understand,” kind of moments, when friends break out in laughter, that only they can fully appreciate. Some moments, are not easy to describe.

Our gospel writers did the best they knew how, to tell us what happened to Jesus on  the mountain.  The transfiguration of Jesus is a mystical moment, of an intense and holy encounter. Peter, James and John were privileged to witness it. Later, they would say Jesus’ clothes became whiter than any earthly white, as they saw a vision of Moses and Elijah talking with him.

In a moment of both fear and awe, they hear a voice, naming Jesus as a beloved, chosen son.  Then the instruction,“Listen to him.”

Our temptation has always been to worship Jesus, sing his praises, yet ignore what he said, as impractical. To listen, is to take Jesus’ words into our hearts, and to live our lives, guided by them.

These last weeks I’ve despaired, as the Trump/Musk administration have broken hearts, diminished our nation, victimized the poor, while unleashing hurt and pain on our most vulnerable neighbors. We’ve broken both the written and moral law, left children to starve and abandoned medical clinics. We’ve pretended we don’t have the resources we need, while raising the budget, to give tax breaks to the wealthiest among us. A nation which professes to be Christian, looks out for the homeless, poor, sick, and will expect more from those who have much.

Throughout Luke’s gospel, he tells us of Jesus’ special concern for the poor, and people who live on the margins. Jesus welcomes sinners, crosses boundaries to heal, reminds us of the searching love of God, and the great reversal for those who would ignore the poor and the needy. He insists we love both God and neighbor, then asks us to show mercy, on the stranger in need.

The mark of a follower of Jesus, is one who takes the words of Jesus seriously, acting in ways, that alleviates suffering, lifts up the poor, advocates for the sick, knowing that as they do so, they are fulfilling the work of Christ in our world.

“The righteous will spring up like a palm tree.
They will grow strong like a cedar of Lebanon.
Those who have been replanted in the Lord’s house
will spring up in the courtyards of our God.
They will bear fruit even when old and gray.” Psalm 92:12-14a